The night India secured their first-ever ICC Women’s World Cup trophy at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium was truly unforgettable. More than just a victory for Harmanpreet Kaur and her formidable squad, it was a testament to the enduring legacy that brought them to this historic moment. The most emotional scene unfolded as the new champions shared their gleaming trophy with two foundational figures of Indian women’s cricket: Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami.
As the night sky above Navi Mumbai erupted with fireworks and a thunderous chorus of “India, India!” filled the stadium, Harmanpreet and her teammates made their way into the stands. Their mission: to present the trophy first to Mithali Raj, India’s leading run-scorer of all time, and Jhulan Goswami, the nation’s most prolific wicket-taker. Both legends had previously led India through agonizing World Cup heartbreaks in 2005 and 2017, coming painstakingly close but never quite clinching the title.
This time, their ultimate dream came true, achieved through the very team they had once nurtured and guided.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Mithali could barely utter, “Thank you… I am so happy.” Tears streamed down her face as she lifted the trophy, surrounded by players she once captained, including Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, and Harmanpreet Kaur. For Jhulan Goswami, the moment was equally touching. The veteran fast bowler broke into tears of joy as she embraced Harmanpreet and Smriti, celebrating with the unbridled excitement of a child amidst the crowd’s roaring approval.
Harmanpreet fondly recalled, “Jhulan Di was my biggest support. When I first joined the team, she was the captain. I was new to the scene, but she always believed in me. Anjum (Chopra) also took me under her wing. Sharing this moment with them was incredibly emotional. We had all waited so long for this – and finally, we could touch the trophy.”
As India’s current golden generation passed the World Cup trophy to the legends who laid the groundwork for their success, it marked more than just a celebratory lap. It was a perfect full circle for Indian women’s cricket, a beautiful moment where tears of past near-misses transformed into tears of triumphant joy. From Mithali and Jhulan’s profound emotion to Harmanpreet’s glorious victory, the baton was officially passed, and a long-cherished dream was finally fulfilled.