BCCI honours India with record prize money for Women's World Cup Win
The Indian Women’s cricket team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, etched their names in history on Sunday, 2 November, as they captured their first ever Women’s ODI World Cup by defeating South Africa at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. Guided with composure and determination, the team finally lifted the trophy after years of near-misses and heartbreaks. In recognition of this extraordinary triumph, the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced a massive prize pool of ₹51 crore, which will be shared among the players and support staff. According to the board’s secretary, Devajit Saikia, this award is a celebration of the surreal achievement and the momentous impact it holds for Indian women’s cricket.
The win marks a watershed moment: not just for the team, but for the sport in the country, as it signals an arrival, with women’s cricket stepping into its own. The recognition by the game’s governing body underscores how significant this victory is — both on the field and off it — and how it may serve as an inspiration for future generations of cricketers.
"Last month, ICC Chairman Jay Shah announced a 300 percent increase in women’s prize money. Earlier, the prize fund was 3.88 million dollars, which has now been raised to 14 million dollars. In addition, the BCCI has decided to reward the entire Indian team — players, coaches, selectors, and support staff — with a total of Rs 51 crore,” stated BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia.
India produced a dominant all-round performance to script a memorable victory in the Women’s World Cup final against South Africa. After South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and chose to field, the Indian batters rose to the challenge, posting an impressive 298 for 7 in their allotted 50 overs. Young opener Shafali Verma led the charge with a breathtaking 87 off just 78 deliveries - her highest score in One-Day Internationals - blending aggression with maturity on the grandest stage. Deepti Sharma provided solid support in the middle order, crafting a steady run-a-ball 58 to ensure India reached a competitive total despite regular breakthroughs from the Proteas bowlers.
Chasing 299, South Africa’s hopes rested heavily on their captain, Wolvaardt, who once again displayed her class with a brilliant 101 off 98 balls. Unfortunately for the visitors, the rest of the batting lineup failed to keep up with the required rate, losing wickets at crucial intervals. Deepti Sharma turned the game decisively in India’s favor with the ball, producing a stunning spell of 5 for 39 in 9.3 overs. Shafali chipped in with two vital wickets, sealing a comprehensive win as South Africa were bowled out for 246 in 45.3 overs.
How much is the winning ICC Women's World Cup 2025 prize money?
The 2025 Women’s World Cup has set a new benchmark in cricket history with a record total prize pool of ₹116 crore - nearly three times the ₹29 crore awarded during the 2022 edition in New Zealand. What makes this tournament truly groundbreaking is the International Cricket Council’s introduction of equal prize money for both men’s and Women’s World Cups, a monumental step toward achieving gender pay parity in the sport. This move fulfills the ICC’s long-standing commitment to bridging the financial gap between male and female cricketers. In a striking milestone, the prize purse for this year’s women’s event even surpasses that of the 2023 Men’s World Cup, which offered ₹84 crore.
