It was a night that redefined Indian cricket history. On November 2, 2025, the Indian women’s cricket team conquered years of heartbreak and near-misses to capture their first-ever World Cup title. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur’s fearless captaincy, India outclassed South Africa by 52 runs in the final, finally exorcising the ghosts of 2005, 2017, and 2020 — three campaigns that had ended in painful runner-up finishes.The triumph was the result of years of effort, backed by the rise of the Women’s Premier League and the hard work of coach Amol Muzumdar and his players. The victory sparked nationwide celebrations, with the players instantly becoming household names and inspiring a new generation of girls to take up the sport.
In recognition of their achievement, the BCCI announced a cash reward of INR 51 crore, in addition to the ICC’s prize money of INR 40 crore. Several state governments also promised individual rewards for star performers like Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, and Harleen Deol. However, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar offered a word of caution to the team amid the flood of congratulatory messages and public promises. Writing in his column for Mid-Day, Gavaskar urged the players not to be disheartened if some of the pledged rewards never materialise. “Just a word of caution to the girls. Please don’t get disappointed if some of the promised awards don’t come to you,” he wrote. “In India, advertisers, brands, and individuals are quick to jump on the bandwagon to get free publicity. Unless they are official sponsors, most of these congratulatory messages are just self-promotion.” Drawing from his own experience after India’s 1983 World Cup win, Gavaskar revealed that many similar promises made to that team were never fulfilled. He reminded the women’s side that the truest reward comes not in money or publicity but in the love and admiration of the fans. “The 1983 team too was made many promises, but almost all never materialised,” he said. “Decades later, the affection of the Indian cricket lover remains our greatest wealth — and it will be yours too.” Gavaskar concluded by congratulating the team on their historic feat, saying, “Heartiest congratulations once again. The nation is proud of you. Jai Hind.”
