India's T20 World Cup Champions Earn Record Bonus Eyeing Olympic Gold
India's T20 World Cup-winning cricket squad has received a remarkable bonus of 1.31 billion rupees (£12.2 million) from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), significantly surpassing the $2.34 million (£1.8 million) prize money awarded for their victory. The team secured their historic third men’s T20 World Cup title with a commanding 96-run win over New Zealand in the final held in Ahmedabad on Sunday. This bonus amounts to approximately $3 million more than the tournament's total prize pool of $11.25 million (£8.8 million). The BCCI expressed its congratulations, stating, "The Board congratulates the players, support staff and selectors once again on this historic achievement and wishes them continued success in the future." In a similar gesture last year, the BCCI rewarded the Champions Trophy-winning Indian team with a $6.72 million (£5.1 million) bonus, which was three times the $2.24 million (£1.7 million) they earned for that title. With this latest victory, captain Suryakumar Yadav has set the team’s sights on their next goal: winning a gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. Cricket will make its Olympic return in two years, and India is poised to be a favorite, bolstered by their recent successes in white-ball cricket. The team aims to add to their accolades with the upcoming 50-over World Cup scheduled for next year in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, as they seek to complete their collection of white-ball trophies.
Source: The Independent Sport - 2026-03-10