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STUMP VISION NOVEMBER 14, 2025 | The Indian Eye 38

Grit, Grace, and Glory:

India’s Women Conquer the

World at DY Patil Stadium

India’s long-cherished dream of winning the ICC Women’s World Cup

finally came true on home soil, as Harmanpreet Kaur’s determined team

blended talent, belief, and resilience

OUR BUREAU he said. “In 1983 it was Kapil Dev
at Lord’s; in 2025 it’s Harmanpreet
Mumbai
Kaur’s stunning catch and the roar
nder the floodlights of DY Pa- that followed. This will speed up the
til Stadium in Mumbai, cap- rise of women’s cricket in India.”
Utain Harmanpreet Kaur lifted On November 5, Prime Minister
the ICC Women’s World Cup trophy Narendra Modi hosted the champi-
to the roar of a jubilant home crowd. ons at his residence on Lok Kalyan
For Indian cricket, it was a moment Marg. He lauded their spirit after a
that generations had waited for — a rough start to the tournament and
dream fulfilled after the heartbreaks praised their unity under pressure.
of 2005 and 2017. “You showed what courage and faith
“This tournament was very spe- can achieve,” he said. The team gift-
cial for us,” Kaur said during her ed him a signed jersey emblazoned
meeting with President Droupa- with “NaMo 1” as a token of grati-
di Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. tude.
“When we found out it was being India’s first-ever Women’s World
held in India, we decided we wouldn’t Cup win wasn’t just about cricket —
let the trophy leave the country. We it was about changing the narrative
had the self-belief to win this tourna- India Women’s skipper Harmanpreet Kaur poses with the trophy after the team’s win in the ICC around women in sport. Coach Mu-
ment.” zumdar called it “a victory for every
President Murmu hailed the Women’s World Cup 2025 (@BCCIWomen X/ANI Photo) Indian.” “This is more than a trophy;
team’s feat as “a proud and historic it’s proof that women’s cricket in In-
milestone” that united Indians ev- our year,” Deepti said after the final. In her post-match address, Jemi- dia can lead, inspire, and dominate
erywhere in celebration. “You have “The key was staying calm and trust- mah Rodrigues paid tribute to the on the world stage,” he said.
inspired millions and brought im- ing our process.” generations of Indian women who From Harmanpreet’s resolve
mense pride to the nation,” she told Head coach Amol Muzumdar played for passion long before rec- and Shafali’s flair to Deepti’s mastery
the players. praised the team’s ability to refocus ognition arrived. “Before us, there and Rodrigues’s composure, this was
The final against South Africa quickly after their emotional semi-fi- were girls who played without mon- a campaign defined by unity and pur-
was a masterclass in nerve and pre- nal win over Australia. “Beating ey, fame, or support,” she said. “We pose. The squad’s chemistry and con-
cision. Shafali Verma lit up the stage Australia was massive,” he said, “but are reaping the harvest of the seeds fidence reflected years of investment
with a blistering 87 and two key wick- we knew we couldn’t stay in that eu- they sowed. This victory is as much in grassroots programs, improved fa-
ets, while Deepti Sharma delivered phoria. The girls showed incredible theirs as ours.” cilities, and growing fan support.
one of the tournament’s defining all- maturity in getting back to work. Rodrigues credited the BCCI As the team took their victory
round performances — a fighting 58 November 2 will forever be remem- for reforms such as pay parity and lap around the DY Patil outfield,
and a match-winning 5 for 39. Their bered as the day India became world the launch of the Women’s Premier tricolour flags waving above their
efforts powered India to a 52-run champions.” League (WPL), which she said trans- heads, it felt like a watershed in Indi-
triumph, ending decades of anticipa- From early setbacks to dominat- formed women’s cricket in India. an sport. The cheers were not just for
tion. ing the knockouts, India’s campaign “Today, everyone is following wom- a cup—they were for representation,
Deepti’s consistency through- reflected a newfound steel. Harman- en’s cricket — that change is real and equality, and belief.
out the competition earned her the preet’s leadership combined aggres- permanent,” she added. That night in Mumbai, the world
Player of the Tournament award — sion with empathy, and every play- Former wicketkeeper-batter saw more than champions; it saw
the first cricketer ever to score more er—from seasoned stars to young Dinesh Karthik, who attended the change in motion. The Indian wom-
than 200 runs and take 20 plus wick- debutants—contributed to the col- final, compared the moment to In- en’s team had not just won a World
ets in a single ICC Women’s World lective belief that destiny was finally dia’s 1983 men’s World Cup triumph. Cup—they had won the future of the
Cup. “We always believed this was calling. “Every era has its defining image,” game.

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