Just as the clock ticked past 12, when Nadine De Klerk drove Deepti Sharma's delivery uppishly with Harmanpreet Kaur leaping backwards and taking a high held catch igniting India's victory sparking off an eruption of joy resulting in unreal celebrations, it felt like a new era in Indian women's cricket had dawned. The Indian Women bleeding blue had done the unthinkable and garnered India a famous World Cup victory on home soil. The pinpoint precision in the timing was simply profound because 78 summers ago just as the time stroked past 12 AM in the wee hours of 15th August 1947 was when our great nation India was christened Independence. The serendipity with respect to the timing couldn't have been more poetic.
Winning a World Cup stands as a monumental historic achievement for any nation. When it occurs at home with the crowds swooning and cheering for you it makes the experience all the more special. Having said that however, losing a World Cup final at home backed by billions of people wanting you to cross over the line and when you end up falling short that pain is the worst heartbreaking feeling ever. Nothing can ever beat the scar of such a defeat as it's absolutely gut wrenching especially disappointing innumerable hearts. We all cried with Rohit & Virat when the 2023 WC final slipped out of our hands. All those commanding nonchalant wins throughout the tourney counted for nothing because at the end the victory was not Team India's. It's just a game at the end of the day but there is a massive difference between winning and coming second especially in a team sport like cricket.
As a cricketing fan, this particular win makes the heart beam with pride and swell with joy. Although not in entirety, it has definitely helped in healing to an extent and exorcising the ghosts of the past. As a young youth, watching the Indian men's team succumb to Australia in the 2003 ODI WC final in South Africa was pretty traumatising. Many would say that it was an all conquering invincible Aussie side but if ever there was a team who could upstage the Aussies it was India. After losing their initial encounter to Australia pretty badly, the team led by Saurav Ganguly played fearless cricket winning all the rest of their matches with relative ease. The Aussies although unbeatable had a few slip ups in games against NZ and Eng where they were under the cosh for much of the time. However come the final, the Aussies were simply unconquerable and showed their prowess by asserting their supremacy. I was waiting with bated breath for that 20 year pain to erase in the home ODI World Cup of 2023 but alas only for it to be accentuated much further. India who looked simply untouchable all through the tournament came a cropper right at the very final in front of a jam packed stadium. It was the most perfect way for their 2 talismans Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli to go on a high but instead ended up being a nightmare with tears in truckloads as the 2 unassuming legends were not able to take it crying profusely and uncontrollably. That was the most unbearable loss ever in the history of Indian cricket. There was however some redemption the following year with India finally claiming a T20 World Cup victory albeit not at home but in the Caribbean.
When it came to the Women's game, India did reach the finals of the ODI World Cup twice earlier in 2005 and 2017. In the 2005 edition, an inexperienced Indian side was simply blown away by the Aussies. The 2017 defeat however was hard to soak in. After overcoming the indomitable Aussies in the semifinals thanks courtesy to current captain Harmanpreet Kaurs blitz, the Indians blew away a golden opportunity to win their first ever major title. It was an inexplicable collapse of epic proportions as India bottled up the chase with not even 30 required off the last 5 overs and plenty of wickets still in hand. I remember having seen the events playing out and was simply aghast and distraught. India were literally handed the match on a silver leaved platter but they ended up spilling it by choking beyond imagination.
In 2025, with a home World Cup looming large, India's performance in the group stages was patchy to say the least. They had to do some extra heavy lifting to even reach the semifinals. Their opponent yet again was the almighty Aussies who everyone including the hardcore Indian fan knew were simply too strong to contend with and will probably be brushing aside the Indian side with consummate ease. With Aussies putting up a total of over 330 on the board, it looked like a familiar story unfolding only for the Indians to make a remarkable comeback and exercise the greatest chase ever in the history of the women's game. The celebrations after the semifinals were unparalleled. Must admit however that it felt a little overboard considering the job still had to be done with India's final holy grail still lurking. It was drawing parallels to the win over the Kiwis in the men's ODI WC semifinal of 2023 giving an impression of India already holding one hand at the trophy.
The final had it's moments. India who were inserted to bat first on a belter ended up a wee bit short of 300 on a batting paradise of a pitch at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. It just looked par for the course with the final nerves playing foul as India looked well on course for a score close to about 350 after having laid the platform. The South Africans too were unrelenting especially with their Captain Architect Laura Wolvaardt leading from the front with a scintillating century backing up with the ton scored in the semifinals. However it felt clearly that the stars and signs were on India's side as regular breakthroughs enabled India to cap off a victory for the ages.
The players apart, it's also a beautiful story of redemption for coach Amol Mazumdar. Amol was once touted to be one of India's future cricketing stars after beginning his Ranji career in stellar fashion with a double century on debut. There is also a famous tale of him sitting with his pads on for 2 days not being able to bat with fellow Mumbaikars Vinod Kambli & Sachin Tendulkar stitching up an awe inspiring partnership of 664 runs in the Harris Shield tournament. Mazumdar like the hallowed yesteryear greats Padmakar Shivalkar and Rajinder Goel never ended up representing India and now to be a part as the coach of the World Cup winning Indian women's team speaks wonders.
It was also lovely to see Sachin Tendulkar in the stands who finally won an ODI World Cup in 2011 in his 6th attempt at his beloved Aamchi Mumbai on that historic night of 2nd April 2011. Another heartfelt moment was watching Rohit Sharma witnessing the Indian team winning the World Cup on home soil. Rohit, the captain of the men's ODI World Cup team of 2023 missed out on the opportunity of capturing a home World Cup with India's campaign coming to an end in an agonising manner with a defeat in the final on this very month 2 years prior dated 19th November 2023. Additionally seeing ex Indian women players who missed out on world cup glory such as Anjum Chopra, Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj hold aloft the trophy was truly heartwarming.
One of the greatest signs signalling an Indian victory was the performance of Shafali Varma, the player of the match. She was not even part of the initial squad but an unforeseen accidental injury to their star opener Prathika Rawal resulted in her being added to the squad. In the semifinals she had failed to get going and come the final her place was still in question. At the end, she proved to be the major difference with not only her sterling 87 but also those uncanny 2 wickets which came out of the blue. It was fantasy at it's finest. Another player who was dropped midway through the tournament - Jemimah Rodrigues was the one who played a major role with a sparkling half century to enable India beat NZ to get to the semifinals and then playing one of the greatest knocks ever in the semifinal vs Australia putting India on course to a home World Cup final. Another starlet was the much criticised Deepti Sharma who happens to be the only male or female to secure a half century and take 5 wickets in an ODI World Cup final and to boot ending up with the player of the tournament award. Smriti Mandhana's performance as an opener with crucial knocks also set the pace with her tally being the highest ever in an ODI World Cup by an Indian women. One must also not forget the catch plucked at the 3rd attempt by Amanjot bringing to an end Laura Wolvaardt's brilliant innings thus thwarting the South African crusade. The punchy knocks towards the end by wicket keeper Richa Ghosh also proved to be a key decisive factor in India's crucial victories. Another revelation was young Shree Charani who kept the scoring rate at bay along with chipping in with pivotal breakthroughs.
The stars also shone brightly on India's side with coincidental similarities to the men's ODI World cup winning side of 2011 with respect to the date, city, Nakshatra in operation and Captain finishing with the final flurry towards the end. Summarising the sameness below:
- Apr 2nd 2011, Mumbai, Uthirattathi (Uttara Bhadrapada) star⭐, India win men's ODI WC at home for the first time. Captain Dhoni secures it with the winning six.
- Nov 2nd 2025, Mumbai, Uthirattathi (Uttara Bhadrapada) star⭐, India win women's ODI WC at home for the first time. Captain Harman claims it with the winning catch.
This victory coming 78 years after India's Independence in 1947, 42 years after Indian men's conquest at the ODI WC of 1983 and 14 years after India's famous ODI world cup victory at home soil in 2011 marks a seismic shift. The 1983 victory paved a revolution with the Indian men's game growing from strength to strength with India being a major cricketing powerhouse in the years that followed. This victory by our Desi girls has the potential to spark off a change of guard and herald a new rise in the women's game by providing hope to generations of youngsters. Have to wait and watch as to how things will eventually transpire but at this point tremendously grateful to these girls for providing us a night to remember in rejoicing this vicarious victory and making every Indian extremely proud with this epoch making performance for the ages.
