Explained: Why the ICC did not give any prize money to India after the 2026 U19 World Cup final win vs England

India’s Under-19 team created history by winning a record sixth U19 World Cup title. They beat England by 100 runs in the final at the Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe. Led by Ayush Mhatre, India remained unbeaten throughout the tournament and produced their best performance in the final. England had reached the final after defeating Australia in the semi-final.

The match was dominated by a brilliant batting display from 14-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He scored a stunning 175 runs from just 80 balls and helped India post a huge total of 411. Ayush Mhatre, Abhigyan Kundu, and Kanishk Chouhan also played important roles in keeping the scoring rate high. For England, James Minto was the standout bowler with three wickets. While chasing, England lost early wickets. Caleb Falconer scored 115 runs, but the target was too big, and India won the match comfortably.

Despite this big achievement, the Indian players did not receive any prize money from the International Cricket Council (ICC). The ICC sees the U19 World Cup as a development tournament for young players, not a commercial event. Teams already get support through ICC development programs, and no extra prize money is given for final positions in the tournament.

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BCCI Likely to Announce Cash Reward

The Indian Under-19 team may not have received prize money from the ICC, but they are still likely to be rewarded. In the past, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has always recognised the success of its junior teams.

Past Rewards Set a Strong Example

When India won the U19 World Cup in 2022 under captain Yash Dhull, each player received Rs 40 lakh, while support staff members were given Rs 25 lakh. The Indian women’s U19 teams were also rewarded by the BCCI after winning titles in 2023 and 2025. On both occasions, the board announced a total reward of Rs 5 crore for the teams.

Because of this history, there is strong belief that the current U19 World Cup-winning team will also receive a cash reward. Although the BCCI has not made an official announcement yet, a reward for the players and support staff is expected soon to honour their historic achievement.