After leading India to a historic Women’s World Cup victory, captain Harmanpreet Kaur is all set to be honored by the Punjab government. However, instead of a promotion to Superintendent of Police (SP), she will receive a cash prize for her remarkable achievement.

The Punjab government has reportedly decided to reward the three players from the state, Harmanpreet Kaur, Harleen Deol, and Amanjot Kaur, who were part of India’s title-winning team with ₹1.5 crore each. In addition, both Harleen and Amanjot are expected to receive government job offers as recognition for their contribution to India’s maiden Women’s ODI World Cup win.

According to a report by Tribune India, even though Harmanpreet led the team to glory, she will not be given an immediate promotion. Currently serving as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), she must complete the required number of years in service before becoming eligible for promotion to SP.

Punjab Government Plans Felicitation Ceremony for World Cup Heroes

Reports suggest that while the Punjab government is exploring ways to give her a special honour, a direct promotion at this stage is not possible under existing service rules. Interestingly, hockey star Manpreet Singh, who also serves as a DSP, has been waiting for his promotion to SP since 2021, despite previous announcements.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is expected to felicitate Harmanpreet, Harleen, and Amanjot in a special ceremony once the captain returns to Punjab. Sources say that all arrangements for the event are ready, and an official announcement will be made soon.

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Harmanpreet's police career has been one of ups and downs. In 2018, she had been demoted from DSP to a constable after her degree, which was from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, was declared invalid. At that time, it was not UGC-recognised. In 2024, after completing her degree through Lovely Professional University, Harmanpreet was reinstated as DSP.

Despite these challenges, Harmanpreet Kaur continues to be one of India's most successful and respected cricketers. India went on to beat South Africa in the final of the 2025 World Cup under her captaincy at the DY Patil Stadium-a proud moment for the whole nation-to bring home the country's first-ever Women's World Cup title.

Under the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur, the India Women's Cricket team secured their maiden ICC World Cup 2025 global title a week ago, defeating South Africa in the final at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma’s celebrated all-rounder half-centuries posted a huge match-winning score on the board, while Laura Wolvaardt’s century wasn't enough to complete the chase against the determined Women in Blue.

The former Indian opener, Sunil Gavaskar, delivered a stark warning to the Women in Blue, reckoning the players shouldn't expect every cash prize promise made after their ICC World Cup 2025 triumph. He recalled how the 1983 World Cup victory against England was followed by wide media coverage and plenty of empty promises and incentives that never materialized for that global title-winning team.

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“(It’s) just a word of caution to the girls. Please don’t get disappointed if some of the promised awards don’t come to you. In India, advertisers, brands, and individuals are quick to jump on the bandwagon and try to get free publicity for themselves on the shoulders of the winners.” Gavaskar wrote in his column.

Sunil Gavaskar compares India’s Women’s World Cup 2025 victory with 1983 experience

India Women began their ICC World Cup 2025 campaign with two league stage wins before three successive defeats to Australia, South Africa, and England nearly caused elimination. Their resurgence began with a crucial win over New Zealand, powering them to a knockout stage semi-final triumph over Australia, culminating in the final victory over the Proteas.

“Have a look at the full-page advertising and hoardings congratulating the team. Unless they are team and individual players’ sponsors, the rest are only trying to promote their brands or themselves and giving nothing to the ones who have brought glory to Indian cricket.” Gavaskar added in his column.

“The 1983 team also made many promises with loads of coverage in the media then. Almost all never materialized. The media can’t be blamed, as they were happy to carry the lofty announcements, not realizing that they also were being used by these shameless people. So girls, don’t fret if these shameless ones are using your win to promote themselves.” The former Indian opening batter shed light.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Gavaskar's warning to the Women's World Cup winners?

Gavaskar warned the team not to expect every promised cash prize to materialize, based on his experience with "empty promises" after the 1983 World Cup.

Why did Gavaskar compare the win to the 1983 World Cup?

He compared the situations because in both instances, advertisers and brands immediately sought free publicity using the team's success without fulfilling promised rewards.

Which players starred in the World Cup 2025 final victory?

Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma scored half-centuries to post the match-winning total, securing the victory against South Africa.

What caused India's near elimination in the World Cup 2025?

India's campaign nearly ended after they suffered three successive league stage defeats against Australia, South Africa, and England.

Harmanpreet Kaur has had a superb time in the last week as she became the third Indian captain, along with MS Dhoni and Kapil Dev, to lift the ODI World Cup for the Blue Brigade. They beat South Africa in the final of the Women’s World Cup 2025 at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai as the Laura Wolvaardt side couldn’t complete the 299-run chase.

But the social media sparked controversy as an account on social media has accused Harmanpreet Kaur of being a lesbian tag. This happened after the right-handed batter, Harmanpreet Kaur, posted a story on Nupur Kashyap’s birthday on Instagram, as the social media account made a stunning comment.

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“She is her best friend, also her girlfriend. They are partners. 2023 birthday post, she wrote Happy Birthday, my whole world for Nupoor. After four hours, she removed it. Because people criticized her. That’s why now she wrote only the best friend world. Her real fans know about it better. Being gay is not a shameful thing. She has stayed with her (Harman) since before 2008. Now, they are living together.” Social media fans expressed on X (Formerly known as Twitter).

Social media sparks new controversy with shocking claim of ‘lesbian’ for Harmanpreet Kaur

Noopur Kashyap is the owner of Repeat7, a company specializing in sports management and athlete representation, where she serves as the talent manager for Kaur. She is responsible for managing Kaur’s career, including customizing strategies to build her brand and profile.

harmanpreet kaur Insta story. pic.twitter.com/GkBHDo2PUH

— Rakesh Choudhary (@realRakesh0) November 8, 2025

“Sharing their properties, lives, sadness, happiness, and all. Nupoor has stayed with Harman since before Harman’s publicity. She is her backbone. Now don’t ask how I know. I have followed both of them since 2018, and I also followed them using my mom’s Instagram account. That time I saw all their stories and all the posts since 2016. These words for Nupoor. Deserves respect.” The social media account has been added.

Harmanpreet wasn’t in great touch during the Women’s World Cup 2025 as she celebrated only two half-centuries against Australia and England in the tournament. She collected 260 runs in eight innings at an average of over 30.

I was today years old when I got to know that Harmanpreet is l*sbian😭. pic.twitter.com/oykFLlL7hJ

— mutual.stark (@mutualstark) November 8, 2025

The Indian women’s team has won its maiden ICC World Cup after beating South Africa in the final at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. Their captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, recalled the advice of the former player, Sachin Tendulkar, and others ahead of the final on November 02. 

In the semifinal against Australia, the Blue Brigade completed a fine chase on the back of a fine century from Jemimah Rodrigues, who remained unbeaten on 127 runs as they beat the then-defending champions, who were unbeaten for the last two World Cups since losing the semi in the 2017 World Cup.

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“The night before the match, Sachin (Tendulkar) sir called. He shared his experience and asked us to keep our balance. When the game is going fast, just slow it down a little. Try to control it because when you go too fast, chances are you can stumble. That is what we need to avoid. I was just thinking of all the advice I was getting from the seniors.”

Harmanpreet Kaur reflects on Sachin Tendulkar’s suggestion ahead of the Women’s WC 2025 final

Harmanpreet recalled how different it feels to be called a world champion. After the final, they had a meeting with India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, at the latter’s residence, when he lauded the players for their remarkable resilience and comeback in the event.

“Whenever we see each other, we are just saying, ‘world champion’. It is a very different feeling. We were waiting for the time when we would feel this way. My mother and father were there. For me, it was a very special moment to lift the World Cup trophy with them. Since my childhood, they have heard me say that I want to wear India’s jersey, play for the country, lead the team, and win the World Cup.” Kaur added in the ICC review.

“You all have done a very big job. In India, cricket is not just a game; it has become the life of the people. If everything goes well in cricket, the entire country feels good, but if there is anything wrong in cricket, the entire country shakes. I feel that you can be very motivational because you hold a great power of success in your hands.” PM Narendra Modi congratulated.

India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, met the triumphant Indian Women’s World Cup team at his residence at Lok Kalyan Marg on November 05. He congratulated the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side for winning their maiden title against South Africa in the final at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai three evenings ago.

PM Modi lauded Indian’s incredible resilience and comeback from three successive defeats in the league stage of the event, which could have disqualified them from the event’s semifinal. India lost to the Proteas, England, and Australia and found themselves in a do-or-die situation of crashing the New Zealand side, which they finally did.

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“You all have done a very big job. In India, cricket is not just a game; it has become the life of the people. If everything goes well in cricket, the entire country feels good, but if there is anything wrong in cricket, the entire country shakes. I feel that you can be very motivational because you hold a great power of success in your hands.” PM Narendra Modi expressed in a video that he shared on social media.

Watch: PM Narendra Modi congratulates India’s Women’s World Cup 2025 victorious side

India faced a huge issue ahead of their final against South Africa and semifinal against Australia when their opener, Pratika Rawal, was ruled out of the knockouts with injury. That led the management to bring Shafali Verma as a replacement, who cracked 87 runs in the final to post a beyond-reachable score for the Laura Wolvaardt-led side.

Every Indian feels immense pride in Team India’s World Cup victory. It was a delight interacting with the women’s cricket team. Do watch! https://t.co/PkkfKFBNbb

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 6, 2025

“Just talk to the children. They will ask you many questions, and you can answer whatever you feel comfortable sharing. Team spirit matters the most. And team spirit isn’t just about what happens on the field. When you spend 24 hours together, a kind of bond forms naturally. Only then does true unity happen.” PM Modi addressed the interaction.

“We remember the last time we met you in 2017; we could not get the trophy, but we are really proud that this time, we have become the world champions. We are really honoured to meet you. We aim to keep meeting you in the future as well.” India’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, told the Prime Minister.

Just a few days after leading India to a historic Women's ODI World Cup victory, captain Harmanpreet Kaur celebrated the occasion in a special way. She shared a photo of her new World Cup trophy tattoo on her left arm, which quickly went viral on social media. The tattoo shows how proud she is of the victory and what it means to her and Indian women’s cricket.

Fans were amazed and emotional after seeing the picture. Harmanpreet posted it with the heartfelt caption, "Forever etched in my skin and my heart. Waited for you since Day 1 and now I will see you every morning and be grateful." Her post received a flood of love and praise from fans all over the country.

After the historic victory, players like Harmanpreet and other members of the women's team have been part of numerous interviews and social media posts where they went through the emotional experience of being World Champions. One fun video shared by the BCCI has Harmanpreet recounting some touching memories of her first performing cricket days, which was her initial involvement in the sport.

A Dream Born in Childhood

“Ever since, as a kid, I started getting a sense of what likes and dislikes were, I've always seen a bat in my hand. I still remember we used to play with a bat from my dad's kit bag. The bat was very big,” she said. “One day, my dad cut an old bat of his to make it small for me. We used to play with it. Whenever we used to watch a match on TV, or watch India play, or watch the World Cup, I used to think, I need an opportunity like this. At that time, I didn't even know about women's cricket.”

World Cup on the arms - Harmanpreet Kaur with her new tattoo. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/ZlOlBAaBWr

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 5, 2025

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For Harmanpreet, that early fascination soon turned into a mission to inspire change in women’s cricket. “I was dreaming, when will I wear this blue jersey? So I think this means a lot to me, a young girl who didn’t know about women’s cricket, but still dreaming that one day, I want to bring that change in our country,” she said. “And I think, it all shows that you should never stop dreaming. You never know where your destiny will take you. You never think, when will it happen, how will it happen. You only think, this will happen.”

Having waited nearly two decades for this glory, Harmanpreet admitted that lifting the trophy as captain was the culmination of a lifelong dream. “Personally, it's a very emotional moment. Because it was my dream since childhood. Ever since I started playing, it was my dream to win the World Cup one day. If I get an opportunity to lead my team, I don’t want to miss this opportunity,” she said, her voice filled with pride and gratitude.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the combined Playing XI with a standby cricketer after the conclusion of the Women's World Cup 2025. From the two finalists—the India Women's cricket team and the South Africa Women's cricket team—the ICC picked up a total of 6 players for the best eleven.

From India, it is Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Deepti Sharma who are named for the specially mentioned playing combination. While from the runner-up team, Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp, and Nadine de Klerk are able to make the final cut. Wolvaardt, the skipper of South Africa's women's team, was also named as the skipper for the best team of the 2025 World Cup. Annabel Sutherland, Ash Gardner, and leg-spinner Alana King feature from the Australian team that reached the semi-finals.

From the England cricket team, Sophie Ecclestone is in the team, and her compatriot Nat Sciver-Brunt is named as the 12th player. For the wicketkeeping role, Pakistan's Sidra Nawaz was named in a side. Surprisingly, team India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who led the team to the glory, is not mentioned in the honorary team. 

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Deepti Sharma emerged as India’s most valuable player and also the player of the tournament. In the tournament, she secured 215 runs, including a century, and claimed a total of 22 wickets at an average of 20.40. That match-winning unbeaten century from Jemimah Rodrigues in the semifinal against Australia was an unforgettable moment for Indian cricket. The Indian middle order scored 292 runs at an average of 58.40. And Smriti Mandhana, one of the most constant run scorers for the team in the tournament, notched up 434 runs at an average of 54.25, including a century and two fifties. 

The ICC Women’s World Cup Team of the Tournament: 

Smriti Mandhana (India), Laura Wolvaardt (c) (South Africa), Jemimah Rodrigues (India), Marizanne Kapp (South Africa), Ash Gardner (Australia), Deepti Sharma (India), Annabel Sutherland (Australia), Nadine de Klerk (South Africa), Sidra Nawaz (wk) (Pakistan), Alana King (Australia), Sophie Ecclestone (England), Nat Sciver-Brunt (England). 

Harmanpreet Kaur becomes the third Indian captain to lift the World Cup, along with Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni, as India won their very first Women’s World Cup in 2025 against South Africa in Navi Mumbai. Rohit Sharma missed the chance during the 2023 World Cup at home against Australia. However, both of them have a great coincidence in the milestones that will shock everyone.

Both Rohit Sharma and Harmanpreet have won ICC trophies as captains, with the former lifting the T20 World Cup 2024 and the Champions Trophy 2025. Besides featuring for the Mumbai Indians, they made their international debut at the age of 20. Both the right-handed batters have 171* against Australia and have featured in most T20Is for the Indian side in men’s and women’s cricket, respectively.

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Harmanpreet and Rohit scored their maiden international century at number 4 and became the first captain from men’s and women’s cricket to celebrate a T20I century. Besides making their debut in the World Cup against England, they have their respective highest scores in World Cup knockouts. In their individual debuts, they bagged eight runs with the bat.

Know similar milestones between Harmanpreet Kaur and Rohit Sharma to shock fans

Harmanpreet and Rohit have nailed most sixes for the Blue Brigade in respective men’s and women’s cricket and smashed the highest score against Australia for India in the men’s 50-over formats. They have won an Asia Cup as captain and earned the IPL trophy in their debut season as the leader of the side.

In their third season of the IPL, they lifted their second trophy as captain, and on that occasion, they became the player of the match. Among the Indian players, both Kohli and Harmanpreet collected the most Player of the Match awards. Under them, the Mumbai Indians experienced the biggest win in the league. In Men’s and women’s cricket, they have played most World Cup games.

Against South Africa, both claimed their maiden ICC trophy and have grabbed the most catches for the Blue Brigade. Meanwhile, they have the most victories by the Indian captain in T20Is of men’s and women’s cricket, and also use the CEAT bat. Only once, they smashed the international century without hitting a six, and hold your breath- it also came against England for both of them.

The Indian Women's Cricket Team made history on Sunday, November 2, when they beat South Africa by 52 runs in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 final at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. The feeling in the country is of overwhelming pride. Harmanpreet Kaur and her team, the Indian Women's Cricket Team, made history by winning their first-ever World Cup the entire tournament which also made them the talk of the country in many soft and hard formats. Fans and dignitaries are anxious to celebrate their monumental achievement on the world stage.

According to Hindustan Times, the World Cup winning squad is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday in New Delhi. The Prime Minister's Office reportedly sent out an official invitation to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday evening. The team is still in Mumbai and is expected to head to Delhi for the meeting on Tuesday evening. After meeting with PM Modi the players are likely to head to their respective local towns for a short vacation. Currently, there is no official victory parade or public celebration planned for the champions. However, a final decision regarding the felicitation ceremony will likely be made following the next ICC meeting in Dubai. Earlier, PM Modi wrote a note congratulating the Indian women's team for the amazing achievement in women's cricket, on social media. The BCCI has also announced a cash incentive of INR 51 crore for the female players, support staff, and selectors, which is in recognition of the wonderful contribution made by the women to cricket in India.

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"A spectacular win by the Indian team in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Finals. Their performance in the final was marked by great skill and confidence. The team showed exceptional teamwork and tenacity throughout the tournament. Congratulations to our players. This historic win will motivate future champions to take up sports,” wrote Modi on X.

A spectacular win by the Indian team in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Finals. Their performance in the final was marked by great skill and confidence. The team showed exceptional teamwork and tenacity throughout the tournament. Congratulations to our players. This…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 2, 2025

BCCI announced 51 crore cash award to Indian Women team

According to reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to determine the distribution plan for the announced INR 51 crore cash award. However, it is expected that each player, along with head coach Amol Muzumdar, will be rewarded between INR 2.5 to 3 crore based on early indications. Furthermore, the supporting staff may be rewarded with around INR 25–30 lakh each for their invaluable contribution in leading the team to an extraordinary achievement at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.

In the final, India Women displayed a brilliant performance to set a strong score of 298 runs in 50 overs. Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma led with the bat to set the momentum for victory. Laura Wolvaardt from South Africa responded with a stunning century but Deepti's spectacular five wickets clinched the success for the home team. India eventually won the title by 52 runs for their first time, marking history in women's cricket.

It was the night where joy found no hurdle. Years of piled-up emotion were oozing out from every Indian cricket fan present at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.

India Women's team skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was at the center of the spotlight. She made her name permanent in the pages of the record book. For the entire nation, Harmanpreet is the captain, but for her parents, she is a daughter. After the match, Team India was celebrating the moment. Harmanpreet went straight to his father, Harmander Singh Bhullar, who was waiting for his daughter. In between the crazy crowd, when all the camera lenses were on Harmanpreet, she hugged his father.

Harmander, out of joy, lifted Kaur like a small child. An adorable moment between a father and daughter. Like Kaur, his father was also then on the seventh heaven, living one of the best moments of his life. Through the video, attached in the article below, readers can see the auspicious moment. 

Read More: Women's World Cup 2025 Prize Money Distribution: List of all teams and amount they receive

Harmanpreet Kaur's father lifts her like a small child

The way Harmanpreet Kaur’s father lifted her up and hugged her.🥹❤️

The proudest father.🤍 pic.twitter.com/6lRwF24Ycu

— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) November 3, 2025

Harmanpreet Kaur's father, Harmander Singh Bhullar, was a former sportsman and later worked as a clerk at a local judicial court. He is one of the main reasons Kaur grew up and became one of the most successful cricketers in Indian cricket. During the semi-final of the ICC Women's World Cup 2025, when India faced a stiff challenge from the Australia women's team, Kaur played an important knock. 

She missed a century by only a few runs and provided the much-needed support to Jemimah Rodrigues, whose unbeaten hundred-plus-run innings ensured India's win and confirmed the ticket to the final. After that, the rest is history—India won the World Cup.