The Maharashtra government has announced a cash reward of Rs 11 lakh each for the 11 support staff members of the Indian women’s cricket team, celebrating their landmark victory in the 13th edition of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup. The Women in Blue, led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur and coached by Amol Muzumdar, clinched India’s first-ever senior-level ICC title by defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a thrilling final held at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, on November 2, 2025.
This unprecedented success on home soil marked Harmanpreet Kaur as the first Indian captain to lift an ICC trophy in women’s cricket, etching a golden chapter in India’s sporting history. The Maharashtra government’s generosity highlights the crucial role of the dedicated support staff that propelled the team to this historic milestone. Among those rewarded is bowling coach Avishkar Salvi, underscoring the comprehensive team effort behind the triumph.
The road to glory was no easy feat. India kicked off their campaign with a solid 59-run win against Sri Lanka in Guwahati, followed by an 88-run victory over Pakistan in Colombo. Despite setbacks with three consecutive defeats, to South Africa, Australia, and England, the team bounced back emphatically with a dominant 53-run win over New Zealand before the league-stage washout against Bangladesh. The semi-final clash on October 30 at DY Patil Stadium saw India chase down a record 339-run target set by defending champions Australia, sealing their place in the final with a historic performance.
In the final, India posted a formidable 298/7, guided by an explosive opening partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, who not only carved out the highest total in a Women’s World Cup final but also dazzled with notable individual performances. Shafali Verma’s 87 off 78 balls made her the youngest player to score a half-century in an ICC ODI World Cup final. Deepti Sharma’s all-round brilliance, a vital 58 runs and a five-wicket haul, sealed the victory by dismantling South Africa’s chase, led valiantly by Laura Wolvaardt’s century.
The Maharashtra government’s timely recognition follows Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s earlier felicitation of star performers Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Radha Yadav, each awarded Rs 2.25 crore, and coach head coach Amol Muzumdar, who received Rs 22.5 lakh. This broad-based reward system celebrates the entire ecosystem that contributed to India’s maiden ICC Women’s ODI World Cup title.
This historic triumph not only fulfils a long-standing dream for Indian women’s cricket but also sets a new benchmark in the sport’s legacy in the country, inspiring future generations of women cricketers and their support teams. The Maharashtra government’s generous gesture of rewarding the entire squad’s support staff acknowledges that success in cricket is a collective journey involving players and those behind the scenes alike.
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