Monday, November 3, 2025

A World Cup win that changed everything


Somewhere at the back of the mind, there was this quiet, stubborn gut feeling: the Indian girls were going to do it. But for fear of jinxing it, the thought always remained unspoken.

What unfolded at D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai last night was nothing short of electric. A second consecutive cracker of a match. The first, of course, was India’s stunning win over the mighty Australians on Thursday.

And then, one minute past midnight, Harmanpreet Kaur leapt into the air to take a catch that sealed it. The Women's World Cup had a new champion. Finally. After heartbreaks in 2005 and 2017, the cup was ours.

This video put out by the official broadcaster in India Star Sports says it all:

A BATTLE WORTHY OF CHAMPIONS

India had come close before — twice, in fact — only to fall at the final hurdle. This time, both Australia and South Africa played their hearts out, making India’s triumph all the more sweet.

When India couldn’t cross 300 yesterday, the mood dipped. That nagging memory of South Africa snatching victory in the league match crept in. 

But what made this final unforgettable wasn’t just the scoreboard — it was the sheer grit on display. Honestly, you don’t often see this kind of raw determination even in the men’s matches.

MORE THAN JUST TROPHY

This win isn’t just about lifting a cup. It’s about lifting a sport, a generation, a dream.

Until not too long ago, many hadn’t even known there was a women’s cricket team! No live telecasts. No proper coaching. No big stadiums. No attention.

BBC World Service Test Match Special commentator Henry Moeran put out a telling tweet yesterday. Here it is:

In 2017, when India beat Australia to reach the final, something shifted. The country began to notice. It cracked the door open. Since then, the changes have been real. Pay parity with the men; better travel and stay arrangements; big sponsors; and then came the Women's Premier League — a game-changer in every sense.

LIGHTING THE PATH FOR MILLIONS

The WPL didn’t just spotlight women’s cricket — it flung the doors wide open for girls from small towns and villages to dream big; to play; to be seen; to be celebrated.

What we witnessed last night wasn’t just a win. It was both a culmination as well as a continuation; and a promise. And somewhere in the crowd, or maybe watching on a tiny screen in some remote village, a young girl must have seen herself in blue — and believed.

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3 comments:

  1. Yamini MacLeanMonday, 03 November, 2025

    Hari OM
    It was a super win indeed!!! Well done sisters of India. (Sadly, the video won't play "in this region" - but have seen others and followed via blogfeed.) YAM xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Liz A.Tuesday, 04 November, 2025

    Congrats.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AndrewTuesday, 04 November, 2025

    We were cheated. Seriously, congratulations to the Indian team.

    ReplyDelete

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