India’s women’s cricket team unveiled their long-awaited victory song after lifting their first-ever ICC Women’s World Cup trophy, defeating South Africa by 52 runs at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday night.
Batter Jemimah Rodrigues said the team had pledged to reveal the song only if they won the World Cup. “We decided this four years back that we would only reveal the team song when we win the World Cup, and tonight’s the night,” Rodrigues said in a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Players, coaches, and support staff joined in singing the anthem, which included the lines: “Naa lega koi panga, kar denge hum danga, rahega sabse upar, humara tiranga.”
India, batting first, set a target of 299. South Africa appeared in control at one stage before spinner Deepti Sharma triggered a collapse. From 209 for 5, the Proteas were bowled out for 246. Deepti finished with figures of 5 for 39, while Shafali Verma and Sree Charani added key wickets.
South African captain Laura Wolvaardt top-scored with 101, but lacked support from the other end as India sealed the title.
After the match, captain Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana handed the trophy to former stars Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami, honouring their contribution to Indian women’s cricket. Nearly 40,000 fans attended the final in Navi Mumbai.
IANS