Cash prizes, cars, land, government jobs, endorsements and a million new followers.
These are the rewards that came the way of India’s Women’s World Cup winning team after lifting the trophy last Sunday. But there’s more to it than that – for the first time, the Madhya Pradesh government has promised the team’s new pacer, Kranti Goud, to reverse her father’s decade-and-a-half-old suspension from the police position.
“Kranti spoke about the need for a cricket stadium in Chhatarpur (her home district) and we will develop a stadium with the best facilities. As for the suspension of Kranti’s father, there will be a formal appeal to reinstate him,” Sports Minister MP Vishvas Kailash Sarang told The Indian Express.
Kranti’s brother Mayank, who was overwhelmed by the gesture, said: “My sister not only made the country proud, but also restored the honor of our family.” In 2011, Caranti’s father faced an investigation for neglect of duty, an allegation he denied.
World Cup winner Amanjot Kaur was welcomed on his arrival in Chandigarh. (Image source: Express Photo | Jasper Malhi)
Some other members of the team were also surprised by the response to their achievement.
In a smart move two days after Harleen Deol asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi about his skincare routine when the team called him, a cosmetics company has roped in her as its brand ambassador.
Hours after landing at Chandigarh airport, Harleen was posing for a photo. “She did a photo shoot to endorse the brand today. We are happy that her passion for cricket has been endorsed,” said Dr. Manjot Singh, Harleen’s brother.
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But then, Harleen isn’t the only one whose brand value is set to skyrocket. Divyanshu Singh, CEO of JSW Sports, the company that manages Jemima Rodriguez and Shafali Verma, the stars of the semi-final and final, has the numbers.
“The Women’s World Cup has not only created champions on the field, it has created the next generation of sporting icons in India. Jemima and Shafali have seen their brand value and influence grow exponentially, making them powerful brand figures,” Singh said.
“Jemima’s Instagram followers have doubled from 1.5 million to 3.3 million, while Shafali’s follower count has increased by more than 50 per cent. Their endorsement values have also gone up – Jemima from Rs 60,000 to Rs 1.5 crore, and Shafali from Rs 40,000 to over Rs 1 crore in less than a year. Today Jemima represents Nike, Red Bull and Hyundai, and her Surf Excel marketing moment,” he said. Following the World Cup it became a cultural touchpoint – celebrating effort, resilience and authenticity.
Richa Ghosh, a member of the 2025 ODI Women’s World Cup-winning Indian cricket team, arrives in her hometown, Siliguri, West Bengal, Friday, November 7, 2025. (PTI Photo)
The detergent brand was quick on the ball. Making use of the phrase “Daag acche hai (stains are good)”, they urged Jemima not to wash the mud-soaked shirt from the World Cup semi-final against Australia – a match in which she scored an unbeaten century.
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Singh believes that women cricketers represent “the real pillar of change”. He added: “Beyond the numbers, these athletes are expanding the paradigm of impact; showing how sport can drive societal change. Whether it’s Jemima speaking out about mental health and anxiety, or the broader inspiration they provide to young girls, they represent a more inclusive and empowered generation.”
And now the cash prizes After receiving US$ 4.48 million (approximately Rs 39.7 crore) from the ICC as prize money, the BCCI announced a reward of Rs 51 crore. This was followed by Chief Ministers of various states – the latest being Maharashtra’s Devendra Fadnavis with Rs 2.5 lakh each to vice-captains Smriti Mandhana, Radha Yadav and Jemima, and Rs 25 lakh each to head coach Amol Muzumdar and bowling coach Avishkar Salve, along with iPhones. Fadnavis also supported a proposal by the Mumbai Cricket Association to reserve one of the stadiums in the city exclusively for women cricketers.
SUVs and plots of land
In Andhra, left-arm spinner Sri Charani was rewarded with a 1,000 square feet residential plot, a job in the first group and a cash award by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. Speakers of parliaments in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh also promised to provide money, jobs and promotions to the winners. Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini has invited Shafali, who was appointed ambassador of the Haryana Women’s Commission earlier this week, to his official residence in Chandigarh next week.
New SUV keys are on the way too. Tata Motors will award each of the World Cup winners with a soon-to-be-relaunched Tata Sierra.
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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu with N. Shri Sharani, a member of the 2025 ODI Women’s World Cup-winning Indian cricket team, during a meeting in Hyderabad. (Release via PTI Images)
The players were also welcomed like stars when they returned to their home states.
Players Amanjot Kaur and Harleen were received at the Chandigarh airport by Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and MP Haier met the processions that took the cricketers home. “You can see what changes have happened since we won the World Cup,” Amanjot said, adding that the first thing she did was visit her grandmother, who had a heart attack just before the World Cup.
“My mind has been preoccupied with my grandmother’s health, but in these moments, I can see how life has changed for each of us. Meeting the Prime Minister and President was the greatest honor for each of us,” Amanjot said. And now welcome back home.”
In the village of Parsa in Himachal, Vinod, brother of fast bowler Renuka Thakur, welcomes a steady stream of visitors. “Our village is now known as Renuka Village,” he said. On the family’s wish list now is a job as a police officer. We hope to see Renuka in the DSP uniform soon,” said Vinod.
(tags for translation) World Cup
