Former Indian cricketers lauded the Indian women’s cricket team after their historic maiden ICC Women’s World Cup triumph, hailing it as a moment that would inspire generations to come.
Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir led the chorus of appreciation, saying the victory was not just about creating history but about building a legacy. “You have not just created history, you’ve created a legacy that will inspire generations of girls!” Gambhir wrote on X.
India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav also took to X to write, “What a historic moment for Indian cricket. Our Women in Blue have shown the world what passion, perseverance and belief can achieve. Congratulations!”
Ravichandran Ashwin posted, “Congratulations @BCCIWomen, that was one hell of a campaign. Well done to the girls and the entire support staff led by @amolmuzumdar11.”
Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan said, “Many congratulations to @BCCIWomen for winning the World Cup. Brilliant play. Deepti Sharma, what a player you are. Shafali, well done.”
Shikhar Dhawan called it an “incredible win” and lauded the fearless approach of the players. “@TheShafaliVerma’s fearless batting and @Deepti_Sharma06’s all-round class made all the difference. Champions in every sense of the word!” he wrote.
Virat Kohli, in a heartfelt post on Instagram, said the triumph was a proud moment for every Indian. “The girls have created history, and I could not be prouder as an Indian to see the hard work of so many years finally come to life. They deserve all the applause. Congratulations to Harman and the whole team. This will inspire generations of girls to take up the sport in our country. Jai Hind,” he wrote.
Batting icon Sachin Tendulkar drew parallels with India’s 1983 men’s World Cup triumph, calling it a defining moment for women’s cricket in India. “1983 inspired an entire generation to dream big. Today, our women’s team has done something truly special. They have inspired countless young girls to pick up a bat and ball, take the field and believe that they too can lift that trophy one day,” he said.
After heartbreaks in the 2005 and 2017 finals, India finally found the perfect blend of skill, balance and composure to lift their first-ever World Cup title across formats. The Women in Blue outplayed South Africa, the first-time finalists, by 52 runs in a pulsating final at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday night.
All-round performances from Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma anchored the victory, sealing India’s long-awaited moment of global glory.
Opting to bat first, India got off to a steady start with a 100-run partnership between Smriti Mandhana (45) and Shafali Verma. Shafali’s 87 off 78 balls, supported by Jemimah Rodrigues (24) and Deepti Sharma (58), helped India post a formidable 298/7. Richa Ghosh’s quickfire 34 provided the finishing touches.
For South Africa, Ayabonga Khaka was the pick of the bowlers with 3/58.
Chasing 299, South Africa’s hopes rested on skipper Laura Wolvaardt’s century (101), but India’s disciplined bowling, led by Deepti Sharma (5/39) and Shafali Verma (2/36), dismantled their resistance. The Proteas were bowled out for 246 in 45.3 overs.
With this win, India not only ended a long wait for a world title but also ushered in a new era for women’s cricket — one defined by belief, resilience and legacy.
ANI