India’s dominant men’s cricket team will receive $23.5 million (US$14m) after winning the Twenty20 World Cup for a record third time, the country’s cricket board announced on Tuesday.
According to a report by NZ Herald, the co-hosts and pre-tournament favourites defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad, becoming the first team to successfully defend the T20 World Cup title and also the first to win it on home soil.
Cricket enjoys unmatched popularity in the world’s most populous country, where top players are treated like celebrities and the sport often acts as a rare unifying force across the nation’s diverse communities.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), widely regarded as the richest and most influential body in world cricket, congratulated the players, support staff and selectors for the “historic achievement” while announcing the financial reward, NZ Herald has quoted.
The victory secured India’s place “among the most successful teams in the history of the format,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said, as quoted by NZ Herald.
The prize money will be shared among the entire squad, including coaches and support staff, according to the NZ Herald.
In addition to the BCCI reward, the Indian team will receive $3.93 million (US$2.34m) from the International Cricket Council (ICC), while runners-up New Zealand will earn $1.97 million (US$1.17m), according to a report by NZ Herald.
Celebrations erupted across India late Sunday night as jubilant fans wearing blue Indian jerseys flooded the streets, beating drums and dancing to Bollywood music after the historic win, as reported by the NZ Herald.
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