India are celebrating their maiden Women’s World Cup victory and are comparing it to the memorable 1983 men’s victory.
Published November 3, 2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a memorial service for India’s women cricketers following Sunday’s “historic” victory in the World Cup final, and team captain Harmanpreet Kaur hoped it would be a turning point for women’s cricket in India.
India suffered heartbreak in the 2005 and 2017 finals of the 50-over competition, but won their maiden title by defeating South Africa by 52 runs in front of 40,000 enthusiastic home fans at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
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India suffered three consecutive losses early in the tournament and almost lost the match, but they bounced back and advanced to the semi-finals, where they defeated seven-time champions Australia, who are chasing the record.
“Dream big and chase your dreams”
“The team showed exceptional teamwork and tenacity throughout the tournament. Congratulations to the players,” Prime Minister Modi said on social media. “This historic victory will motivate future champions to take up the sport.”
The Indian Cricket Board announced that the team would receive a cash prize of 510 million Indian rupees ($5.8 million) for winning the title, a win that The Indian Express dubbed a “herstrick” on its front page.
Harmanpreet said this could be a turning point for the women’s game in the cricket-mad country.
“We have been talking about this for years. We have been playing good cricket but we had to win one big tournament,” the batsman said.
“Without that, you can’t talk about change. After all, fans and spectators want to see their favorite team win.
“It’s not that we didn’t play some good cricket, but we’ve been waiting for this moment and today we got a chance to live it.”
The Indian men’s team’s fairy-tale victory at the 1983 World Cup is considered to be the catalyst that catapulted the country into a competitive powerhouse on and off the pitch, with batsman great Sachin Tendulkar saying Sunday’s victory was a “defining moment in the history of Indian women’s cricket”.
“1983 inspired an entire generation to dream big and chase those dreams,” he wrote on social media.
“Our women’s cricket team did something truly special today. They inspired countless young girls across the country to pick up a bat and ball, take to the field and believe that one day they too can lift that trophy…”
Mithali Raj, who led India to the women’s final in 2017, said Harmanpreet’s victory was a dream come true.
“I have had this dream for over 20 years to see Indian women lift the World Cup trophy,” she wrote to X.
“Tonight, that dream finally came true. From the heartbreak in 2005 to the fight in 2017, every tear, every sacrifice, every young girl who picked up a bat believing we belonged here, it all led to this moment.”
A stunning victory for the Indian team in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 final. Their performance in the final was full of great skill and confidence. The team showed exceptional teamwork and tenacity throughout the tournament. Congratulations to all the players. this…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 2, 2025
