India won the Men’s Cricket World Cup on Saturday, defeating South Africa to end a more than decade-long tournament winless streak, even as the country dominated the sport globally. demand for other aspects such as talent, cash and influence.
The tournament is held on several Caribbean islands, some matches are held in the United States, including at pop up stadium in New York. When the final in Barbados ended with India declared champions, it was almost midnight back home, where jubilant crowds took to the streets in many cities.
“Maybe after a few hours everything will be fine, but it’s a great feeling,” said Rohit Sharma, the Indian team captain, who toured the stadium with his daughter on his shoulders to feel Thanks to the crowd, said. “To get to the finish line — everyone feels great.”
It was a tense and emotional match for India, partly because many of their senior players, including Sharma, 37, were nearing the end of their careers. India last won the World Cup in the T20 tournament, the shortest format of cricket, in 2007, when Sharma first started. The top prize also went to 35-year-old Virat Kohli, one of cricket’s most recognized icons. Rahul Dravid, the Indian team coach, has never won a World Cup during his long and illustrious playing career.
All three men ended the night on a high note, with Sharma and Kohli announcing their retirement from the short-pitch sport. Dravid, who has ended his tenure as India coach, is usually a quiet and composed person. But after the win, he was shouting and celebrating.
Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi both 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 countrymen,” Modi said in a video message.
Cricket, watched by hundreds of millions, is a major part of India’s global brand – perhaps more so than the country’s film industry. India’s cricket governing body has sometimes been accused of using its vast economic power to dictate the terms around global cricket events, reflecting its status as the world’s biggest contributor and destination for the world’s best players.
The launch of the Indian Premier League in 2007 transformed a sport once seen as slow and cash-strapped. In just 17 years, the league’s brand value has surpassed $10 billion, making it one of the top leagues. richest sports leagues in the world. Players regularly earn contracts worth more than $1 million for a roughly eight-week season, with some of the highest salaries approaching $3 million.
Last year, India launched the IPL’s sister league, the Women’s Premier League, with $500 million – a similar investment to the one that started the men’s league – and has expand opportunities for women in India and scout for talent from around the world. The league’s wealth means more investment in facilities to develop more players. Female players who have long followed the men’s sport are now looking for brand endorsements, larger television audiences and thousands of people to watch their matches at stadiums.
And the foreign players in both tournaments – all of whom have large followings back home – are a public relations boost for India as they travel far and wide to compete, using social media to express admiration for the culture of a large country.
In India, a country crazy about cricket and closely following every move of its players on and off the field, many stars in this generation have been role models who can help the country solve social problems. society, especially in public life. still dominated by men.
Sharma, the captain, who is married to a sports management expert, and Kohli, who is married to an actor, often talk about the roles their partners play in their careers. Sharma’s wife, Ritika Sajdeh, and their daughter are often by his side on tours, while Kohli regularly video calls his family from the stadium after matches.
“Our daughter’s biggest concern is whether all the players have someone to hug them after she saw them crying on TV,” said Kohli’s wife Anushka Sharma. post on social media after victory
Jasprit Bumrah, who was named the World Cup’s most valuable player, conducted the post-award interview with his wife, broadcaster Sanjana Ganesan. The couple worked on the tour. Behind them amid the celebrations was their 10-month-old baby in a stroller.
“Thank you so much for speaking with us, Jasprit, and I wish you all the best—” Ms. Ganesan began as she ended the interview. But her husband hugged her before she finished speaking and then ran back to join his teammates in celebration.
