The Indian women’s cricket team has made history! In a truly emotional moment, they clinched their first-ever ICC Women’s World Cup trophy, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a thrilling final at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
For former India captain and legendary batter Mithali Raj, this victory was the culmination of a lifelong dream—a dream she had nurtured for over two decades. Her profound emotion and pride were evident as the team lifted the coveted trophy.
Mithali Raj lifts the Women’s World Cup trophy. (Pic credit: BCCI)
Mithali shared her overwhelming joy in a heartfelt social media post:
“Champions of the World! I’ve seen this dream for over two decades, to watch the Indian women lift that World Cup trophy. Tonight, that dream finally came true. From the heartbreak of 2005 to the fight of 2017, every tear, every sacrifice, every young girl who picked up a bat believing we belong here, it all led to this moment. To the new champions of world cricket, you didn’t just win a trophy, you won every heart that ever beat for Indian women’s cricket. Jai Hind.”
This powerful message quickly resonated with fans and cricketers alike, sparking widespread celebration. In a beautiful, touching gesture during the victory parade, Harmanpreet Kaur’s team honored Mithali Raj by handing her the World Cup trophy, acknowledging her immense and unparalleled contribution to Indian women’s cricket.
“I am just very happy and emotional that India has finally won the World Cup. That is something we all had been waiting for years, and finally we got to see that,” Mithali expressed after the historic win.
India’s journey to the championship was a testament to their incredible resilience. After facing three consecutive group-stage losses, the team staged a remarkable comeback, storming into the knockouts and ultimately rewriting history under the guidance of coach Amol Muzumdar and captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
In the final match, India set a formidable target, posting 298/7. This impressive total was powered by Shafali Verma’s fantastic 87 runs, Deepti Sharma’s crucial 58, and significant contributions from Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh. Deepti Sharma then shone with the ball, delivering a stellar performance by taking 5/39. Her efforts helped India bowl out South Africa, successfully sealing a victory that not only fulfilled Mithali’s decades-long dream but also resonated with millions of passionate fans.