India Celebrates One Year Since Historic Women's ODI World Cup Victory
A Year of Triumph for Indian Women's Cricket
On November 2, India commemorates the first anniversary of its women's cricket team's groundbreaking victory in the ODI World Cup, a moment etched in history following their 52-run win against South Africa in the 2025 final. This remarkable achievement took place at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, where Harmanpreet Kaur led the team to lift their inaugural ICC Women’s ODI World Cup trophy on home soil.
Deepti Sharma, who was named Player of the Tournament, shared her reflections on this significant milestone through an Instagram video. She expressed her gratitude and motivation to continue excelling for the nation, stating, "Some moments stay with you for a lifetime, and this one will always be special. Reliving it every day makes me feel more grateful and motivates me further to give my extra to put smiles on the faces of millions of fans who support us every day."
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Mithali Raj, the former captain of India, also took to X to share her heartfelt thoughts on this momentous occasion, emphasizing the importance of the team's success and the legacy of women cricketers who paved the way. She remarked, "A year ago, a dream nurtured by generations of Indian women cricketers became reality. Watching Harmanpreet and her team lift the Women’s ODI World Cup was an incredibly special moment. It was a victory built on years of perseverance, sacrifice, and belief. Proud of this journey, grateful to have been a part of it, and delighted to see the next generation take Indian women’s cricket to new heights. Some moments belong to generations. This was one of them."
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) commemorated the anniversary with a series of posts featuring insights from captain Harmanpreet, opener Smriti Mandhana, and head coach Amol Muzumdar regarding this landmark achievement.
"This is a very emotional moment for me. Since childhood, winning the World Cup was my ultimate dream," Harmanpreet expressed.
Mandhana, who played a pivotal role throughout the tournament, shared a message she would convey to her younger self: "The only message to my younger self is to keep that madness alive. Because growing up, you are going to be called a World Cup Champion."
Reflecting on the team's journey, head coach Muzumdar stated, "There was a dream of winning the World Cup, there it is. But at the same time, the journey continues."
The success of India's title-winning campaign was attributed to the outstanding performances of several players, with five individuals particularly shining throughout the tournament.
Deepti Sharma led the tournament in wickets with 22 and amassed 215 runs, including a remarkable five-wicket haul of 5/39 in the final, earning her the Player of the Tournament accolade.
Mandhana scored 434 runs, the highest by an Indian woman in a single ODI World Cup edition, including a century. Jemimah Rodrigues contributed 292 runs, highlighted by her unbeaten 127 and a crucial 167-run partnership with Harmanpreet in the semifinal against Australia.
Harmanpreet added 260 runs, featuring a vital 89 in the semifinal, while wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh scored 235 runs at an aggressive strike rate, hitting 13 sixes, the most by an Indian in the tournament.
In the final against South Africa, Shafali Verma was named Player of the Match for her 87 runs off 78 balls and also took two wickets for 36 runs. Deepti's 5/39 was instrumental, and Harmanpreet's key catch to dismiss Nadine de Klerk in the 46th over was crucial in securing the historic win.
This victory marked a significant milestone for Indian women's cricket, ending a long wait for an ODI World Cup title and bringing the trophy home for the first time.