India won the men’s cricket World Cup on Saturday, defeating South Africa, ending a tournament drought that lasted more than a decade, even as the country dominated the sport globally in other metrics such as talent, money and influence.
The tournament was held across several islands in the Caribbean, with the United States hosting some matches, including at a temporary stadium in New York. When the final in Barbados ended with India being declared champions, it was nearing midnight in India, with jubilant crowds spilling onto the streets in several cities.
“I may get it in a few hours, but it’s a great feeling. Crossing the finish line is a great feeling for everyone,” said India captain Rohit Sharma, who toured the stadium with his daughter on his shoulders to thank the fans.
The match was a close affair, and a highly emotional one for India, partly because several of their senior players, including Sharma, 37, were nearing the end of their careers. India won the T20 World Cup, the shortest form of cricket, in 2007, when Sharma was in his prime. The biggest prize also eluded Virat Kohli, 35, one of cricket’s most iconic figures. Rahul Dravid, India’s coach, never won a World Cup during his long and illustrious playing career.
The three men ended their night on a happy note, with Sharma and Kohli announcing their retirement from the shortstop. Dravid, who has completed his stint as India’s coach, usually has a calm and collected presence. But after winning, he was screaming and celebrating.
Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the team. “On the field, you won the World Cup. But in the villages, streets and communities of India, you won the hearts of our people,” Modi said. Video message.
Cricket, watched by hundreds of millions of people, is a crucial part of India’s global brand – perhaps more important than the country’s film industry. Cricket’s governing body in India has sometimes been accused of using its huge economic weight to dictate terms around international cricket events, reflecting its status as the world’s richest shareholder and destination for the world’s best players.
Referring to how rich cricket is in India, Jay Shah, Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, said: Announce On Sunday, about $15 million was allocated in bonuses to the winning players and support staff. This is in addition to approx Winner’s prize is $2.5 million. Which comes with the cup.
The launch of the Indian Premier League in 2007 has transformed a sport once seen as slow and cash-strapped. In just 17 years, the league has been worth more than $10 billion, making it one of the richest sports leagues in the world. Players routinely earn contracts worth more than $1 million for a season lasting about eight weeks, with some of the highest-paid players earning close to $3 million.
India has also sought to share the sport’s riches with its female athletes. A country with a poor record on gender equality in the job market, it is a leader in efforts to make a career in team sports viable for women.
Last year, India launched the Indian Premier League’s sister league, the Women’s Super League, with $500 million — a similar investment to the one that started the men’s league — and is already expanding opportunities for women in India and talent from around the world. The league’s wealth means more investment at grassroots level to develop more players. Female players who have long been in the shadow of the men’s game are finding brand endorsements, more TV viewers and thousands who attend their matches on court.
Foreign players in both leagues – all of whom have large followings at home – are a PR boost for India as they travel to play, using social media to spread admiration for the culture of a vastly diverse country.
In India, a cricket-obsessed nation that closely follows players’ every move on and off the field, many of this generation of stars have been role models who could help the country get the ball rolling on social issues, especially regarding public life that remains male-dominated.
Sharma, the skipper who is married to a sports management professional, and Kohli, who is married to an actress, often talk about the role of their partners in their careers. Sharma’s wife, Ritika Sajda, and their daughter are often by his side during innings, while Kohli is often seen video calling his family from the stadium after matches.
“Our daughter’s biggest concern was whether all the players had someone to hug them after she saw them crying on TV,” said Kohli’s wife Anushka Sharma. Posted on social media After winning.
Jasprit Bumrah, who was named the World Cup’s best player, found himself being interviewed after the award with his broadcaster wife Sanjana Ganesan. This was a working couple on tour. Behind them, amid the celebrations, their 10-month-old baby was being nursed in a pram.
“Thank you so much for speaking to us, Jaspreet, and I wish you all the best -” Ms. Ganesan began as she concluded the interview. But her husband went to hug her before she finished speaking, then ran back to join his teammates in celebration.
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