Indian cricket icon Sunil Gavaskar has offered a cautionary note to the victorious Indian Women’s World Cup team, advising them not to be disheartened if certain promises and sponsorship deals made in the wake of their historic win do not come to fruition.
The nation has been jubilant following India’s first Women’s ODI World Cup triumph, with various brands, state entities, and organizations rushing to honor the team led by Harmanpreet Kaur. Drawing from his own experience as a member of the 1983 World Cup-winning team, Gavaskar cautioned that not all commitments made in the excitement of the moment may endure.
In his column for Mid-Day, Gavaskar wrote, “Please do not be disheartened if some of the promised rewards do not materialize. In India, advertisers, brands, and individuals tend to capitalize on the success of winners for their own publicity.”
He emphasized that while the outpouring of congratulations and advertisements may seem positive, many of those celebrating the women’s team do not have genuine connections with the players. “Unless they are authentic sponsors, the others are simply leveraging your victory for self-promotion,” he added.
Gavaskar drew parallels with the 1983 victory, noting that similar assurances were made to the men’s team back then, most of which remained unfulfilled even years later. “The 1983 team also received numerous promises amidst extensive media coverage. However, most of them never materialized,” he reflected.
Despite the possibility of opportunists taking advantage of their success, Gavaskar assured the women’s team that the sincere affection of Indian cricket enthusiasts would be their ultimate reward. “So, do not worry, girls. The love of simple Indian cricket fans, as the 1983 team can attest, is our greatest treasure, and it will be yours too.”
The recent World Cup victory in Navi Mumbai was truly iconic, with the team staging a remarkable comeback after three initial losses. They triumphed over defending champions Australia in the semi-final by chasing a record 339 runs and then defeated South Africa by 52 runs in a packed DY Patil Stadium final.
Following the victory, the BCCI announced a Rs 51 crore reward along with the Rs 40 crore ICC prize money. State governments and corporate entities also pledged rewards for individual players like Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, and Harleen Deol. Additionally, the West Bengal Chief Minister promised to name a cricket stadium in Darjeeling after Richa Ghosh to honor her exceptional performance in the World Cup.