India announces $15 million World Cup team prize

India’s World Cup-winning cricket team will share nearly $15 million, the national cricket board announced on Sunday, as a reward for its “talent, determination and sportsmanship”.

India won a thrilling final by seven runs in Barbados on Saturday to clinch their first major title since the 2013 Champions Trophy.

Jay Shah, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), announced the generous reward, which will be shared among around 25 people – the entire team, including coaches and support staff.

“I am happy to announce a prize of Rs 125 crore ($14.9 million) for Team India for winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024,” Shah said in a statement.

If split equally, that works out to about $600,000 each.

“The team displayed exceptional talent, determination and sportsmanship throughout the tournament,” added Shah.

“Congratulations to all the players, coaches and support staff on this outstanding achievement.”

The title win comes after more than a decade of disappointment in the knockout stages of International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments.

The cash prize adds to the International Cricket Council’s record prize pool of $11.25 million for the tournament.

India, as the winner of the competition, will share a prize pool of $2.45 million plus bonuses, which the ICC said was “the highest amount in the history of the tournament”.

South Africa will share $1.28 million for finishing second.

After India’s victory, the cricket-mad country erupted with midnight celebrations as fans in blue Indian shirts on cars and bikes took to the streets of several cities, including the capital New Delhi.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on social media on Sunday that he had spoken to the team, praising them for their “excellent skills and spirit.”

pjm/smw