Historic World Cup Victory Brings Life-Changing Rewards for Women Cricketers
The triumphant Indian women's cricket team continues to reap extraordinary rewards following their World Cup victory last Sunday, with cash prizes, brand endorsements, government jobs, and even the resolution of long-standing family disputes coming their way.
Beyond Cricket: Personal Victories and Family Redemption
In one of the most emotional outcomes, Madhya Pradesh Sports Minister Vishvas Kailash Sarang announced that the state government will revoke the 15-year suspension of fast bowler Kranti Gaud's father from his position as police constable. "Kranti has spoken about the need for a cricket stadium in Chhatarpur and we will develop one with the best facilities. As for Kranti's father's suspension, there will be an official appeal to reinstate him," Sarang confirmed.
The Gaud family expressed overwhelming gratitude, with Kranti's brother Mayank stating, "My sister has not only made the country proud but has restored the honour of our family." The suspension dated back to 2011 when Kranti's father faced negligence charges that he consistently denied.
Brand Value Soars as Social Media Followers Multiply
The commercial landscape for women cricketers has transformed dramatically post-victory. According to Divyanshu Singh, CEO of JSW Sports which manages Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma, Jemimah's Instagram following more than doubled from 1.5 million to 3.3 million, while Shafali's grew by over 50 percent.
Endorsement values witnessed unprecedented growth with Jemimah's rate jumping from Rs 60 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore and Shafali's from Rs 40 lakh to over Rs 1 crore within a year. Jemimah currently represents major brands including Nike, Red Bull, and Hyundai, while her Surf Excel campaign became a cultural phenomenon celebrating effort and resilience.
Batter Harleen Deol secured a cosmetic brand endorsement shortly after her viral interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi about his skincare routine. "She has a brand endorsement shoot today. We are glad that her passion for cricket has got her endorsements," said Dr Manjot Singh, Harleen's brother.
Substantial Financial Rewards and Career Opportunities
The financial windfall for the team has been substantial, beginning with USD 4.48 million (approximately Rs 39.7 crore) in prize money from ICC, followed by an additional Rs 51 crore reward from BCCI.
State governments joined the celebration with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announcing Rs 2.5 crore each for vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, Radha Yadav, and Jemimah Rodrigues. The Maharashtra government also approved Mumbai Cricket Association's proposal to reserve a ground exclusively for women cricketers in Mumbai.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu rewarded left-arm spinner Sree Charani with a 1,000 sq ft housing plot, a Group-I job, and cash award. Similar recognitions came from the governments of MP, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, offering cash, jobs, and promotions to their respective state players.
Tata Motors will present each World Cup winner with the soon-to-be-relaunched Tata Sierra SUV, adding to the growing list of material rewards.
Heroes' Welcome Across States
The players received spectacular welcomes upon returning to their home states. All-rounders Amanjot Kaur and Harleen Deol were greeted at Chandigarh airport by Punjab's Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and MP Meet Hayer, with cavalcades escorting them home.
"You can see what changes have happened since we won the World Cup," Amanjot remarked, adding that her first priority was visiting her grandmother who suffered a heart attack before the tournament. "Meeting the PM and President has been the biggest honour for each one of us. And now the welcome on returning home."
In Himachal's Parsa village, fast bowler Renuka Thakur's brother Vinod reported continuous streams of visitors, noting that their village is now known as "Renuka's village." The family hopes to see Renuka in a DSP's uniform soon, reflecting the growing expectation of police officer positions for the champions.
The World Cup victory has not only transformed the lives of these athletes but has significantly elevated the status of women's cricket in India, creating new role models and inspiring generations of young girls to pursue sporting careers.
