'Champions' rings for India's 2024 T20 World Cup winning team: 'It took 450 hours...'

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently presented diamond-studded Champions rings to Team India’s 2024 T20 World Cup winners. Crafted by Harsh Sagar, a fourth-generation jeweller from Mumbai, the rings represent India's historic victory in the final against South Africa at Barbados.

But designing them was no ordinary task—it required cutting-edge technology to create these Champions rings.

Explaining the inspiration behind the design, Sagar said it was inspired by the prestigious tradition of championship rings in global sports, where victory is honoured with something personal, lasting, and symbolic.

“The process began with a detailed design brief provided by the Dream11 team. Each ring carries the player’s name, jersey number, match scorecards, and stars for past T20 World Cup wins—making it an individual keepsake while maintaining a unified identity,” Sagar explained.

At its heart lies the rotating Ashoka Chakra, symbolising momentum, resilience, and national pride. “It’s a tribute not just to the T20 World Cup triumph, but to the spirit of Indian cricket itself,” Sagar shared.

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Each ring carries the player’s name, jersey number, match scorecards, and stars for past T20 World Cup wins.

The first stage involved hand-drawn sketches to outline the initial design, followed by CAD (computer-aided design) models, which offered a precise preview of the ring’s structure, feasibility, and proportions. Next came prototyping, a meticulous process that involved creating several versions to refine every detail. “After countless adjustments and trials, the team achieved the perfect balance of form and function,” Sagar says.

It took around 450 hours of effort for the final product to emerge: an 18k solid gold ring weighing 60 grams, adorned with 330 natural white diamonds, featuring a blue ceramic enamel inlay, and a rotating chakra on top. “This was never meant to be just another commemorative piece—it was designed to age like a fine investment, ensuring that its value, both sentimental and financial, only grows with time,” Sagar adds.

One technical challenge was accommodating each player’s unique ring size. “We solved this with the inclusion of a spring mechanism inside the ring band. This innovation allowed the band to expand and contract seamlessly, ensuring a perfect fit for every recipient,” Sagar says.

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It took approximately 450 hours of meticulous work to produce the final product.

The significance of the ring lies in the fact that these are more than just awards. Unlike trophies that belong to institutions, this ring is deeply personal—a token that players carry for life.

“It introduces a new tradition in Indian cricket, much like the championship rings of the NBA and NFL,” Sagar says, concluding that this could pave the way for a new era in sports recognition—where athletes are honoured with bespoke, investment-worthy memorabilia.