They weren't up for a windfall even after the trophy but life was certain to get a lot better as some sponsors and state governments stepped up to lift them financially.
India will have a final opportunity to iron out any flaws, especially when responding to pressure situations, when they take on Bangladesh in their concluding fixture ahead of Women's World Cup semi-finals, in Navi Mumbai, on Sunday.
World number one Carlos Alcaraz eased to a 6-2, 6-4 win over Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime at the ATP Finals on Saturday to set up a highly-anticipated title decider with defending champion Jannik Sinner.
Spain cannot meet Argentina and France will not face England before the World Cup final - provided they win their groups - after FIFA on Tuesday announced the draw procedure.
Six-times champions Spain edged past Germany 2-1 on Saturday to reach their first Davis Cup final since 2019 after their doubles pair of Marcel Granollers and Pedro Martinez clinched a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win over Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz in the decisive match.
With the IPL auction days away, some young cricketers who may launch a bidding war among the franchises.
Lakshya Sen stormed into the men's singles final of the Australian Open Super 500 badminton tournament after a gritty three-game victory over world No. 6 Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei in the semi-finals, in Sydney, on Saturday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated the Indian blind women's cricket team for winning the inaugural T20 World Cup.
As India chase history at home in Navi Mumbai, while Laura Wolvaardt's South Africa will look to script their own fairytale, by finally breaking their run of heartbreaks at ICC events.
Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma was crowned Player of the Tournament in India's maiden ICC Women's World Cup triumph, says she still cannot believe she bowled the title-winning delivery.
Leading international cricketers, including Laura Wolvaardt and India's World Cup hero Deepti Sharma, will go under the hammer at the Women's Premier League auction in Delhi on Thursday, with bidding wars also expected for homegrown Kranti Gaud and Shree Charani.
The man who never played for India has taken India to an ICC Women's World Cup final.
Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime reached the last four of the ATP Finals with a 6-4, 7-6(4) round-robin win over two-times winner Alexander Zverev on Friday and Jannik Sinner extended his indoor hardcourt unbeaten run by beating American Ben Shelton.
Sen, 26, who had made it to the Hong Kong Open final but has gone without a title this year, had a tough time beating Shetty in the opening game.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are poised to reignite their rivalry at the ATP Finals, with the year-ending championship that begins on Sunday expected to produce another title showdown between the pair in a season that has belonged to them.
Harmanpreet Kaur overtook legendary Australian batter Belinda Clark for most runs across all ICC Women's ODI World Cup knock-out matches during the title clash against South Africa, at Navi Mumbai's D Y Patil stadium, on Sunday.
This was Lakshya Sen's first title since the Canada Open in 2024.
For India, the battle is no longer about proving skill or form, but about crossing the elusive final hurdle that has so often tripped them -- including in this very tournament.
Lionel Messi's much-hyped visit to the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Saturday lasted 22 minutes, just enough to underline everything that is wrong in Indian football and the state administration's mismanagement.
Former skipper Meg Lanning feels Australia's "incredible depth" which has been in full display throughout the tournament gives the seven-time champions an edge over India.
The experienced trio of Ajinkya Rahane, Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube failed with the bat to leave Mumbai India reeling against Vidarbha on Day 2 of the Ranji Trophy semi-finals.
East Bengal FC produced a disciplined defensive performance to hold arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant to a goalless draw and qualify for the semifinals of the Super Cup.
India will search for a spark of magic reminiscent of skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's legendary knock eight years ago as they take on the mighty Australia in the World Cup semi-final on Thursday.
As Group B toppers, South Africa had to take the flight back to Pakistan to play their semi-final as the last-four clash involving India was to be staged in Dubai.
Following the win, emotions were high in the dressing room and the player-of-the-match Rodrigues gave a soul-stirring talk to her teammates.
Shafali Verma scripted a new record to her name as the opener blasted the highest score by an Indian batter in the Women's World Cup final.
Australia captain Alyssa Healy bemoaned some loose bowling from her team after the seven-time champions exited the Women's World Cup in a shock semi-final loss to India on Thursday.
Janice Tjen is the first Indonesian woman since Angelique Widjaja in 2002 to win a WTA Tour singles crown.
Pakistan, led by Fatima Sana, failed to register a single victory in the Women's ODI World Cup -- losing four matches and three games abandoned because of rain in Colombo.
Defending champion Jannik Sinner reached the semi-finals of the ATP Finals with a 6-4, 6-3 win over two-times winner Alexander Zverev on Wednesday, with Ben Shelton eliminated after losing earlier to Felix Auger-Aliassime in the same group.
The Indian shuttlers will face Asian U-19 mixed team champions Indonesia in the semi-finals.
Facing the pressure of playing in a World Cup on home soil, Rodrigues struggled for consistence, posting two ducks and a pair of 30s before being dropped for India's group-stage match against England.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka overcame Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in a gladiatorial battle between big-hitters on Friday to book a WTA Finals title showdown with Elena Rybakina.
'But looking at our current performance, I'm confident that a medal in the World Cup is not far off.'
Elena Rybakina stayed unbeaten at the WTA Finals in Riyadh with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over second alternate Ekaterina Alexandrova on Wednesday after Madison Keys withdrew from their final round robin meeting with illness and Mirra Andreeva was not fit to play.
Deepti Sharma, the World Cup's leading wicket-taker who took a magnificent 5/39 in the final, is joined by teammates Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues in World Cup's Team of the Tournament.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia believes a first Women's World Cup win for India would be a seminal moment, much like Kapil Dev's team in 1983.
Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime came from a set down to earn his first victory at this year's ATP Finals in Turin with a 4-6, 7-6(7), 7-5 win over American Ben Shelton on Wednesday.
In the league stage, South Africa suffered two heavy defeats and their batting came apart against spin in both games.
Their campaign in disarray, Sri Lanka will hope for some respite as they seek a maiden win in the women's World Cup when they take on another struggling outfit in Bangladesh, in Navi Mumbai on Monday.
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