Former India captain and legendary batter Mithali Raj was overcome with emotion and pride as the Indian women’s cricket team lifted their first-ever ICC Women’s World Cup trophy. They secured a thrilling 52-run victory against South Africa on Sunday at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
For Mithali, who had previously led India to two World Cup finals in 2005 and 2017, this moment was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. The 42-year-old icon shared a heartfelt post on social media, beautifully encapsulating the emotions of generations of Indian women cricketers who had paved the way for this historic triumph.
“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,” Mithali wrote.
Her emotional post quickly went viral, resonating with fans and cricketers alike. In a touching gesture during the victory parade, Harmanpreet Kaur’s team presented the World Cup trophy to Mithali Raj, acknowledging her 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 in the tournament was a remarkable display of resilience. After recovering from three consecutive group-stage losses, they stormed into the knockouts and ultimately made history under the guidance of coach Amol Muzumdar and captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
In the final match, India set a formidable total of 298/7, with notable performances from Shafali Verma (87 runs), Deepti Sharma (58 runs), and strong contributions from Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh. Deepti Sharma then shined with the ball, taking 5/39, as India successfully bowled out South Africa to secure a dream victory that Mithali and millions of passionate fans had cherished for over two decades.