The tension was palpable as Nadine de Klerk sent a low full toss from Deepti Sharma soaring towards extra cover. The entire nation held its breath. Then, Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, with an incredible display of composure and agility, timed her leap flawlessly. Moving backward, she stretched her hands high and securely clasped the ball, sealing India’s destiny as Women’s World Champions.
World Champions Team India
The DY Patil Stadium erupted in a cacophony of joy. Harmanpreet broke into a triumphant sprint, a surge of pure emotion. Deepti Sharma was the first to embrace her captain, followed quickly by the entire team in a tearful, euphoric huddle. This Indian team became the heart of the cricketing world – a symbol of dreams realized and past heartbreaks avenged.
On the sidelines, South Africa’s valiant skipper Laura Wolvaardt, who had played a magnificent innings of 101, watched the celebrations quietly from the dugout. In the stands, cricket legends like former Indian men’s team captain Rohit Sharma and ICC chair Jay Shah were seen beaming, savouring a moment destined to be etched into Indian sporting history forever.
Fireworks exploded across the Mumbai sky, painting it blue, as fervent chants of “India! India!” echoed through the packed stadium. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana shared a tight, emotional hug with coach Amol Muzumdar, tears glistening under the bright floodlights.
The official broadcast perfectly captured the momentous occasion – the soaring catch, the roaring crowd, the heartfelt hugs, and the tears of joy. The winning moment was captioned: “WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS! Every ounce of effort, every clutch moment, every tear, all of it has paid off.”
Earlier in the match, Shafali Verma’s exceptional 87 runs and Deepti Sharma’s all-round brilliance, contributing 58 runs and taking 5 crucial wickets, propelled India to an imposing total of 298/7. South Africa, despite a brave fight, was ultimately bowled out for 246.
As confetti rained down, Captain Harmanpreet Kaur perfectly articulated the team’s triumph: “This is just the beginning. We’ve dreamt of this day all our lives — now, India has arrived.”
Catch Lovlina Borgohain’s inspiring story on Game On, Episode 5.