It was third time lucky for the Indian women as they kept their nerve to win the coveted ICC ODI World Cup. They had been in two finals before and had lost narrowly the last time to England at Lord’s, where, for the first time in decades, the English supporters outnumbered the Indian supporters at the ground. The loss by nine runs was hard to take, as the Indians were cruising to a win till Harmanpreet Kaur, who was batting beautifully, got caught at deep square leg. After that, panic and indecision seemed to set in, resulting in a few run-outs and poor shot selection, which ultimately led to the loss.

This time, it was Harmanpreet who was the captain, and she sealed the win with a spectacular catch. This has to go down as one of the best wins in the history of Indian cricket — both in the men’s and women’s game. The determination shown by the women was incredible. If one may be permitted to say so, it is a ‘khadoos attitude’ that Mumbai cricket is famous for. The coach, Amol Muzumdar, being from Mumbai, must have influenced it a great deal, for to bounce back the way they did after losing three close games is nothing short of remarkable.

The win once again emphasised, if ever it was needed, that sporting intelligence wins trophies, not fancy degrees from universities. It also proves that it will invariably be Indian coaches who get the best results since they know the players — their strengths, weaknesses, and temperament — and understand the nuances of Indian cricket better than any foreigner, however accomplished he or she may be.

There were some who tried to compare this win with the men’s team winning the World Cup in 1983. The men had never progressed beyond the group stage in earlier editions, and so everything from the knockout stage onward was new to them, while the women already had a better record, having been in two finals before this magnificent triumph.

Just as the ’83 win galvanised Indian cricket and gave it a voice that was heard around the world, this victory will make the countries that started women’s cricket long before India did realise that their era of domination has been shaken.

The ’83 win also encouraged parents of aspiring cricketers to let their children take up the game. The IPL took it to another level, of course, and that’s why today’s Indian men’s team includes players not just from the metros but from across the country.

Similarly, this win will give new wings to women’s cricket, bringing more girls into the game from the remotest parts of India. The WPL has already begun that process, as parents now see the sport as a genuine career option for their daughters and are more willing to support them.

This is a win to savour, a win to cherish, a win for the ages. Well done, Harmanpreet Kaur and the girls. You have made the country proud — may this be the first of many trophies to come to India.

Published on Nov 03, 2025