India beat South Africa on Saturday to win the men’s cricket World Cup, ending a title drought that lasted more than a decade despite the country’s dominance in other areas of global cricket, including talent, money and influence.
The tournaments are held on several islands in the Caribbean, with several tournaments held in the United States, including Temporary Stadium In New York, as the Barbados final ended with India winning the title, it was approaching midnight in India, with cheering crowds filling the streets of several cities.
“It may take a few hours for me to process it, but it feels great,” said India captain Rohit Sharma, who toured the stadium holding his daughter and thanked the crowd. “Crossing the finish line – it feels great for everyone.”
The match was a tightly fought and emotional one for India, partly because many of its senior players, including Sharma, 37, are nearing the end of their careers. India last won the T20 World Cup in 2007, the shortest format of cricket, when Sharma was just starting out. Virat Kohli, 35, is also one of cricket’s biggest icons yet has failed to capture the highest prize. India coach Rahul Dravid has never won a World Cup in his long and illustrious playing career.
All three players ended the night on a high note, with Sharma and Kohli announcing their retirement from the fast-paced, short-game game. Dravid, who had just completed his tenure as India’s head coach, was usually quiet and calm, but he celebrated after the win.
Indian President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi both congratulated the team. “You have won the World Cup. But in the villages, streets and communities of India, you have won the hearts of our countrymen,” Modi said at the match. Video Information.
Cricket is a key part of India’s global brand, watched by hundreds of millions of people, even more important than the country’s film industry. India’s cricket governing body is sometimes accused of using its vast economic power to influence the global game, reflecting its status as the richest donor and home to the world’s top players.
The Indian Super League was founded in 2007 and revolutionized a sport once seen as slow-growing and cash-starved. In just 17 years, the league has grown to a brand value of more than $10 billion, becoming the The richest sports league in the worldPlayers routinely receive contracts worth more than $1 million for a roughly eight-week season, with some of the highest-paid players having contracts worth nearly $3 million.
Last year, India launched the IPL’s sister league, the Women’s Super League, with a $500 million investment similar to that of the men’s league, and has Expanding opportunities for women Talent from India and around the world has flocked to the league. The league’s wealth means more money to be invested at the grassroots level to develop more players. Women’s players, long in the shadow of the men’s game, are now finding brand endorsements, larger television audiences and thousands of people attending stadiums to watch them play.
Foreign players in both leagues have a large fan base at home, travel to play football and use social media to express their admiration for India’s diverse culture, thus promoting India’s public relations.
In a cricket-mad nation that closely follows players’ every move on and off the field, many of this generation of cricket stars are cricket role models who can help India push for solutions to social issues, especially in a public life that is still dominated by men.
Captain Sharma’s wife is a sports management professional, while Kohli’s wife is an actress, and the two often talk about the role that partners play in their careers. Sharma’s wife Ritika Sajjad and their daughter often accompany him during tours, while Kohli often video calls his family from the stadium after the matches.
Kohli’s wife Anushka Sharma said: “Our daughter’s biggest worry after seeing all the players crying on TV was whether there was anyone to hug them.” Post on social media After the victory.
Jasprit Bumrah, who was named the World Cup’s Most Valuable Player, is interviewed by his wife, broadcaster Sanjana Ganesan, after receiving the award. A working couple on tour, they celebrated with a stroller behind them, in which their 10-month-old baby was being looked after.
“Thank you so much for talking to us, Jaspreet, and all the best to you,” Ms Ganesan said as she concluded the interview. But her husband came over to hug her before she finished, then ran back to celebrate with his teammates.
