It took more than a decade for Team India to win an ICC tournament once again, but once it did, it came in a pair.
Less than a year after India won the ICC T20 World Cup co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States, the Men in Blue clinched the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in style, beating New Zealand by four wickets in Dubai earlier this month.
It was their third Champions Trophy title. As winners of the tournament, the Rohit Sharma-led India side received ₹19.45 crore, while the Kiwis got ₹9.72 crore.
Now, the BCCI has announced a cash prize of ₹58 crore for the Indian team that won the ICC Champions Trophy. It will be distributed among the players, coaching and support staff and the Ajit Agarkar-led men's selection committee.
"Winning back-to-back ICC titles is special and this reward recognises Team India's dedication and excellence on the global stage," said BCCI president Roger Binny in a release.
The exact distribution of cash prize among players, coaching and support staff, and other squad members has not been detailed in the official press release.
But, THE WEEK asked Grok 3 beta, the AI assistant on X, for an estimated breakdown of the cash prize. Here is what it said:
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Based on available information and past trends, here’s an informed estimation of how the prize money might be distributed:
Total Prize Money Context: The ₹58 crore is a BCCI-announced reward, separate from the ICC's prize money for the Champions Trophy 2025 (which is approximately ₹20 crore for the winners, based on posts on X). The BCCI's prize typically includes players, coaching staff, support staff, and sometimes the selection committee, as seen in previous distributions (e.g., the T20 World Cup 2024 prize of ₹125 crore).
Likely Distribution:
Players:
The main squad typically consists of 15 players. Drawing from the T20 World Cup 2024 precedent, where each of the 15 players received ₹5 crore from a ₹125 crore prize, a similar proportional approach might apply here. However, with a smaller total (₹58 crore vs. ₹125 crore), the amount per player would be lower. If the BCCI allocates a significant portion (e.g., ₹45 crore) to the 15 players, each could receive approximately ₹3 crore. This aligns with a post on X suggesting ₹3 crore per player.
Head Coach:
In the T20 World Cup 2024, Rahul Dravid received ₹5 crore, equivalent to the players. For the Champions Trophy 2025, Gautam Gambhir (current head coach) might also receive ₹3 crore, matching the players’ share, as suggested by posts on X.
Other Coaching Staff:
Assistant coaches (e.g., batting, bowling, and fielding coaches) typically receive less than the head coach. In 2024, they got ₹2.5 crore each from the ₹125 crore. For ₹58 crore, they might receive around ₹1.5 crore to ₹2 crore each, depending on the number of coaches (usually 3-4).
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Support Staff:
This includes physiotherapists, throwdown specialists, masseurs, and strength coaches. In 2024, they received ₹2 crore each. For 2025, estimates from X posts suggest ₹50 lakh to ₹2 crore per person, with ₹50 lakh being more conservative given the lower total prize.
Reserve Players:
Four reserve players accompanied the T20 World Cup 2024 squad and received ₹1 crore each. A similar amount might apply here, totaling ₹4 crore for reserves.
Selection Committee:
In 2024, five selectors received ₹1 crore each. If included again, they could get ₹5 crore total, leaving less for others unless their share is reduced.
Estimated Breakdown (speculative, based on past patterns and X posts):
15 players × ₹3 crore = ₹45 crore
Head coach × ₹3 crore = ₹3 crore
3 assistant coaches × ₹1.5 crore = ₹4.5 crore
5 support staff × ₹50 lakh = ₹2.5 crore
4 reserve players × ₹1 crore = ₹4 crore
Total = ₹59 crore (slightly over, suggesting adjustments like fewer support staff or lower amounts for some categories)
Adjustments: The BCCI might tweak amounts based on its policy (not fully public). For instance, if selectors are included (₹5 crore for 5 members), the total exceeds ₹58 crore, implying either a smaller share for support staff (e.g., ₹25 lakh each) or exclusion of some categories.
Conclusion:
Each of the 15 main squad players is likely to receive around ₹3 crore, the head coach (Gautam Gambhir) ₹3 crore, assistant coaches ₹1.5 crore to ₹2 crore each, support staff ₹50 lakh to ₹2 crore each, and reserve players ₹1 crore each. Exact figures depend on the BCCI’s final allocation, which hasn’t been officially clarified beyond the total ₹58 crore announcement.
DISCLAIMER: Since the BCCI’s detailed breakdown isn’t available, these figures are estimates based on prior distributions and current sentiment on X, subject to variation once official details emerge.
