The Indian cricket team created history in Barbados by defeating South Africa in the Final of the ICC men’s T20 World Cup 2024. The win broke India’s 11-year-long drought of success in ICC tournaments, making the T20 World Cup their first ICC trophy since the Champions Trophy in 2013.
To commemorate the achievements of Rohit Sharma and team, the BCCI announced a cash prize of Rs 125 crore for the winning squad.
BET NOW: Exclusive sign-up offers and bonuses when you bet on sporting action
But this is not the first time the Indian team have won a World Cup India’s first ever World Cup triumph came in 1983 when Kapil Dev and his rookie Indian team lifted the iconic trophy by defeating two-time champions West Indies in the Final. Back then, cricket and the cricketing board of India (present-day BCCI) weren’t as prosperous as they are now.
It was the World Cup triumph that helped India announce itself on the centre stage, and become a powerhouse of cricket in coming years. Back then, none of the players were awarded as handsome of a cash prize as they are awarded now, resulting in one of the players front the 1983 winning squad questioning the BCCI for the same.
READ MORE: BCCI chief Jay Shah backs team to win more trophies after T20 World Cup triumph
Former World Cup-winning player demands cash prize from BCCI World Cup win
Questioning and undermining BCCI’s ethics, a former World Cup winner has asked the BCCI what’s stopping them from rewarding the winners of the 1983 World Cup now that they are a billion-dollar company.
The player, who insisted on maintaining anonymity, told IANS,
Rs 125 crore is huge. Happy for Team India. Well, we were not given cash rewards at that time (after the 1983 World Cup victory), because the board (BCCI) had said 'we don't have money'. Now they can give, what is stopping them? Only a few players (of that team) are getting work, rest are struggling. The BCCI should look into it.
Every player from the Indian team back then was awarded Rs. 25000 for their World Cup-winning efforts. Later on, renowned singer Lata Mangeshkar held a fundraiser to raise an amount of 1 lakh for each player.
READ MORE: What is World Championship of Legends?
If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Sporting News has editorial oversight for this content. Learn more >