Renuka Singh and Kranti Gaud to receive ₹1 crore each for World Cup heroics

New Delhi: The celebration following India's historic Women's World Cup triumph continues with state governments honouring the players who made the nation proud. Himachal Pradesh pacer Renuka Singh Thakur and Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Kranti Gaud both have been awarded a cash prize of ₹1 crore for their outstanding contributions to India’s title-winning campaign.

The announcement came as both cricketers played crucial roles in shaping India's success at the ICC Women's World Cup 2025. Their consistency, composure and hunger to perform under pressure turned out to be crucial through out the tournament. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced the reward for Renuka Singh on Monday, applauding her relentless efforts with the new ball. The 28-year-old played a key role in maintaining pressure on opposition batters even when wickets didn’t always come her way.

The Chief Minister personally called Renuka to congratulate her, saying, "You performed brilliantly and made Himachal proud.” Sukhu also assured her of a government job as a token of appreciation for her contribution to Indian cricket.

Renuka’s accuracy and swing bowling particularly in the powerplay overs often set the tone for India’s bowling unit helping them get edge from the very first ball. Even with just three wickets in the tournament, her impact was far greater than the numbers suggested.

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced a ₹1 crore reward for Kranti Gaud, calling her a "daughter of the state who made the nation proud.” The young pacer’s performance was one of the standout stories of the World Cup. She picked up nine wickets in eight matches, delivering crucial spells whenever the team needed breakthroughs.

Kranti’s match-winning performance against Pakistan where she claimed 3 for 20 was one of the highlights of the tournament. That also helped her earn the Player of the Match award underlining her emergence as one of India’s most exciting bowling prospects. Earlier in her career, she had already made headlines by taking a six-wicket haul against England, becoming only the second Indian woman to achieve that feat in ODIs.

Both Renuka and Kranti were instrumental in India’s run to winning their maiden Women’s World Cup title, capped off by a 52-run win over South Africa in the final at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium. Their ability to keep opponents in check in tough times gave the team a balance and confidence that carried them through tough moments during their World Cup campaign.

As India basks in the glory of this historic triumph, the recognition for the stars of the tournaments shows how the women’s game continues to inspire young talent across the country. Their performances didn’t just win matches; in fact, they ignited dreams with a maiden title.