Highlights
- India’s women lift their maiden World Cup title, defeating South Africa by 52 runs
- Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli hail victory as a generational milestone
- Record crowd at DY Patil Stadium underscores growing support for women’s cricket
A historic night in Mumbai
India marked a defining moment in its sporting history on Sunday as the national women’s cricket team secured their first-ever World Cup title, defeating South Africa by 52 runs at a packed DY Patil Stadium. The win places the women’s team alongside India’s four men’s World Cup triumphs, beginning with the landmark 1983 victory. The stadium roared as India lifted the trophy just after midnight, with 45,000 fans erupting into cheers and celebrations spilling into streets across cities, including Delhi, where supporters waved flags and set off fireworks.
Legends call it a generational spark
Cricket icons praised the achievement, drawing parallels to the impact of the men’s team’s breakthrough in 1983. “1983 inspired an entire generation to dream big,” Sachin Tendulkar posted. “Today, our women have done something truly special. They have inspired countless young girls to believe that they, too, can lift that trophy one day.” Virat Kohli echoed the sentiment, calling the win “an inspiration for generations to come” and commending the team’s “fearless cricket.”Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the victory as “historic” and said it would motivate young athletes across the country.
Big performances seal the title
India set a strong total of 298–7, powered by Shafali Verma’s brisk 87 and Deepti Sharma’s composed 58. South Africa fought back, led by captain Laura Wolvaardt’s gritty 101, but Sharma’s 5–39 helped bowl them out for 246 in 45.3 overs. The win followed a challenging tournament run; India bounced back after three consecutive losses in the group stage to surge through the knockouts.
Full-circle moment for pioneers
Former captain Diana Edulji and other members of India’s first Women’s World Cup squad from 1978 watched from the stands, witnessing a milestone they helped set in motion decades earlier. The contrast from 2005, when India finished runners-up with modest public attention, was striking. Crowds, media coverage, and nationwide celebrations underscored how far the women’s game has come.
Captain leads with belief
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur credited unwavering faith within the squad. “We weren’t looking left or right. We were only focused on our end goal,” she said post-match, joining Kapil Dev, MS Dhoni, and Rohit Sharma in India’s roster of World Cup-winning captains. For India’s women’s cricket, long considered underfunded and overlooked, this victory marks not just a title, but a cultural shift. A moment signaling that young girls with a bat and ball now dream on equal footing.
