Sports
Historic T20 win brings historic payout: India’s Rs131 crore cash bonus for champions
BCCI rewards players, coaches, and support staff following India’s third T20 World Cup triumph on home soil.
MUMBAI: The Indian cricket team may have just finished sprinting between wickets, but they are now racing all the way to the bank. Following their historic triumph at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a staggering cash reward of Rs 131 crore for the victorious squad.
It appears that in India, when it rains sixes, it pours riches. Just two days after Suryakumar Yadav’s men dismantled New Zealand in a high-octane final at Ahmedabad, the BCCI decided to ensure the players’ bank balances looked as impressive as the scoreboard.
This isn’t just a “well done” handshake. The Rs 131 crore bounty marks a record-breaking payday, surpassing the Rs 125 crore handed out after their 2024 success. This latest windfall celebrates a hat-trick of sorts: India has become the first nation to win three T20 titles, the first to successfully defend the crown, and the first to lift the trophy on home soil.
The mountain of cash is set to be shared among the 15-man squad, including the final’s standout performer Sanju Samson, whose 89 runs helped set a record-breaking target. However, the generosity does not stop at the boundary rope. The coaching staff, led by Gautam Gambhir, along with the support crew and the national selectors, will all receive a slice of this very lucrative pie.
On the pitch, India’s performance was nothing short of clinical. They posted a mammoth 255 runs before Jasprit Bumrah did what he does best, leaving the New Zealand chase in tatters. Off the pitch, the rewards are equally clinical. Alongside this BCCI bonus, the team also pockets a cool $3 million in official prize money from the ICC.
While cricket is often called a gentleman’s game, it is clearly becoming a wealthy one too. For the players who spent the last month under immense pressure, the weight of the trophy is now being matched by the weight of their wallets. As the celebrations continue across the country, one thing is certain: it pays to be a world champion.
Sports
After Virat Kohli’s exit, One8 Commune Bengaluru shuts down
Outlet near Chinnaswamy closes amid rent row, compliance issues mount
BENGALURU: The One8 Commune outlet near M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has shut down following a court order, bringing a turbulent chapter for the high-profile dining destination to a close.
The immediate trigger was a legal dispute over unpaid dues. The outlet, operated by Trio Hills Hospitality, had reportedly defaulted on rent payments for nearly six months. Including maintenance charges and revenue share commitments, the outstanding amount is said to have crossed Rs 2 crore. A Bengaluru civil court subsequently directed the closure of the premises until all financial obligations are cleared.
The shutdown comes months after Virat Kohli, whose brand name lent the outlet its identity, had already distanced himself from the Bengaluru franchise. According to reports, concerns around repeated compliance-related issues prompted his team to withdraw the association. The removal of the One8 branding is believed to have impacted footfall, further straining the business.
The outlet had also faced regulatory scrutiny over the years. In 2024, authorities booked the establishment for operating beyond the 1:00 am curfew. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike had issued notices over missing fire safety clearances, while an FIR was filed for violating tobacco regulations by not providing a designated smoking zone under applicable laws.
In response to the closure, the brand maintained that the issue stemmed from building-level compliance responsibilities linked to the property owner rather than operational lapses on its part. It also denied that financial default was the primary reason, reiterating that customer safety remained a priority.
For now, the shutters remain down. While a reopening is theoretically possible if disputes are resolved, the absence of Kohli’s brand association makes a return under the One8 banner increasingly unlikely.
