The revelry at the DY Patil Stadium continued long into the night as the India Women’s cricket team celebrated their historic first-ever ICC Women’s World Cup title. Following a thrilling 52-run victory over South Africa, the jubilant players gathered in the center of the field to finally unveil a special surprise they had kept secret for years: their very own team anthem.
Surrounded by the gleaming World Cup trophy, the squad burst into an emotional song and dance, performing their anthem publicly for the first time. This moment was deeply significant, representing a promise made long ago. Batter Jemimah Rodrigues later revealed that the team had collectively decided to keep their anthem under wraps until they achieved the ultimate goal of winning the tournament.
“We decided almost four years ago that we would only reveal our team song when we win the World Cup. And tonight is the night,” Jemimah shared. Chants like “Team India, Team India, karde sabki hawa tight, Team India is here to fight,” and “Rahega sabse upar humara tiranga,” resonated through the stadium, filling the air as players and support staff alike soaked in their hard-earned glory. The video of their heartfelt performance, filled with smiles and laughter, quickly captivated audiences online.
It was a truly fitting conclusion to a day that saw India finally claim their maiden Women’s ODI World Cup title, triumphing after decades of coming so close yet falling short. Earlier in the match, Harmanpreet Kaur’s formidable team delivered a comprehensive performance to overcome South Africa. Shafali Verma’s explosive 87 runs and Deepti Sharma’s exceptional all-round display, contributing 55 runs and an impressive 5 for 39 wickets, were pivotal in helping India set a challenging total of 298 for 7 in the rain-affected final. Despite a valiant century from South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, India held strong, securing a memorable win that etched their names into cricket history.