The Indian women’s team scripted history on Sunday after beating South Africa to win their maiden ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai to break the long-awaited jinx.
Vice-captain and batting mainstay Smriti Mandhana said the team had a bigger responsibility than just to win this World Cup.
“Every World Cup we’ve gone into, there have been so many heartbreaks for all of us. But we always believed that we had a bigger responsibility – not just to win, but to keep growing women’s cricket,” an emotional Mandhana said to the broadcasters after leading India to the win.
The elegant left-hander credited the enormous support the Indian women’s team received in the last 45 days during the World Cup.
She said, “Honestly, just look at the support we’ve had over the last month and a half. It’s been incredible. To finally lift the World Cup today – I’ll take those 45 sleepless nights any day for this moment. That last World Cup was definitely tough for all of us to take. But after that, we had a clear focus – to get fitter, stronger, and better in every area.”
She went on to sing praises about her team which were terrific in the knockouts as they beat Australia against all odds and followed it up with a decimating win over South Africa.
“What’s special about this team – and no one really talks about it – is how much we stuck together. Everyone supported each other, through good days and bad. We genuinely celebrated each other’s success. The team environment this time… it was just so positive, so connected. That’s been the biggest difference, I think,” Mandhana concluded.
Story continues below this ad
The Women in Blue were clinical on a day which was delayed due to rain. After losing the toss, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led India got off to a fantastic start courtesy of Shafali Verma and Mandhana’s 104-run opening stand. Deepti Sharma, in the middle orde,r and Richa Ghos,h with her finishing touches, helped India get to 298.
In a chase of 299, South Africa were in the contest till the very end as their skipper, Laura Wolvaardt, became the first woman in the history of cricket to score a century in a Women’s World Cup semifinal and final, but fate had other plans as India went on to lift the coveted trophy.
