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India's legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar has cautioned Women's ODI World Cup 2025-winning Harmanpreet Kaur-led side about fake promises from advertisers or those promising awards to them. Gavaskar feels that many of them may be using the World Cup-winners to promote their brands and may not live up to their end of the bargain.
"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, and brands and individuals are quick to jump on the bandwagon and try and get free publicity for themselves on the shoulders of the winners. 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 wrote in his column for Mid-Day.
Gavaskar on how ‘shameless’ promoters used the 1983 World Cup winners
Gavaskar recalled when the 1983 World Cup-winning team led by Kapil Dev were made promises. He said the announcements made during their period were never materialised. He went on to call these people 'shameless'.
"The 1983 team also were made many promises with loads of coverage in the media then. Almost all never materialised. The media can’t be blamed as they were happy to carry the lofty announcements, not realising 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," said the 76-year-old.
Indian cricket fan’s love ‘greatest wealth’
However, Gavaskar feels that the affection they will get from Indian cricket lover is their greatest wealth. He congratulated them on the maiden World Cup win again.
"The 1983 guys will tell you that so many decades down the line, the love and affection of the simple Indian cricket lover is our greatest wealth and so it will be yours too, when you also put your feet up. Heartiest congratulations once again. The nation is proud of you. Jai Hind," he further added.
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