As Captain Harmanpreet Kaur led India to lift the Women’s World Cup trophy, an emotional wave of joy swept through the nation. Families of the triumphant cricketers, from Siliguri to Agra and Vadodara, were overcome with emotion, their tears of happiness mingling with chants of pride.
India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur poses with her family members holding the winning trophy after their win over South Africa in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup final match in Navi Mumbai, India, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
In Siliguri, Richa Ghosh’s coach, Pappy Dalal, struggled to contain his elation. “I am incredibly happy and proud,” he shared, his voice filled with emotion. “I prayed for Richa’s excellent performance, and she truly excelled in every match. My joy today knows no bounds.”
Meanwhile, in Vadodara, Gujarat, Milind Varwadekar, coach of Radha Yadav, beamed with pride. “I always believed India would win because we consistently dominate South Africa. The team’s morale was soaring after defeating Australia. Deepti Sharma consistently delivers crucial breakthroughs. Today, Radha was part of the team, and nothing could make me happier, especially since she hails from my academy,” he remarked, his eyes gleaming.
In Haryana, where Shafali Verma’s powerful hitting has inspired many, her parents were overwhelmed with happiness. “We are all so happy. Haryana and the entire nation are celebrating this victory,” her mother exclaimed. “We were confident from the start that our girls would win, and we are planning a grand welcome for her.”
Her father, with hands folded in gratitude, offered thanks. “It is all by the grace of God. The entire nation was praying for our victory. By His grace, she became the Player of the Match. The whole team worked incredibly hard to secure this triumph,” he said.
From Madhya Pradesh, Kranti Goud’s family expressed their profound joy. Her sister Roshni stated, “We are extremely happy that India has won the World Cup for the first time. My sister Kranti was also a part of the team, playing in her first World Cup. It was her dream to play for the Indian team, and she got to participate in every match. We will give her a spectacular welcome when she returns home.”
In Agra, the streets resonated with chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” as Deepti Sharma’s family celebrated her match-winning performance. Her father proudly declared, “We are incredibly happy and elated. The entire nation is celebrating. When Deepti returns home, she will receive a magnificent welcome from all of Agra. She performed exceptionally well today.”
Deepti’s mother, her voice trembling with emotion, led the chants. “Deepti has performed outstandingly. She has exceeded our expectations and made the country proud. I want to congratulate the entire team and the nation. She has fulfilled the dream of every Indian,” she said, tears of pride streaming down her face.