A Billion Dreams Realised: India’s Women Rewrite History with World Cup.
At the stroke of midnight in Navi Mumbai, destiny smiled upon India’s women cricketers. Under the floodlights of DY Patil Stadium, Harmanpreet Kaur’s team rose from heartbreak and near-elimination to script an immortal chapter in Indian sport by winning their first-ever ICC Women’s ODI World Cup. www.telecomasia.net
It was not just a win; it was a revolution. It was a night when two women, Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma, coming from small towns and humble beginnings, stood tall on the grandest stage, carrying the dreams of countless young girls who now know they can too.www.telecomasia.net
The All-Rounders Who Changed Everything
Deepti was the calm in chaos. Shafali , the spark that lit the night. Together, they produced performances that will live forever in the memory of Indian cricket.
Shafali struck a dazzling 87, her first ODI half-century in three years, and then returned to pick up two key wickets, breaking South Africa’s resistance.
Deepti, fighting till the end, made a composed 58 and followed it up with a spell of rare beauty, claiming 5 for 39 as India bowled out South Africa for 246 to win by 52 runs.
Their all-round heroics crowned India world champions, making them only the third nation after England and Australia to lift both the men’s and women’s ODI World Cup trophies.
From Small Towns to the Summit
For Deepti, who grew up bowling with a plastic ball in the lanes of Agra, and for Shafali, who had to disguise herself as a boy to play cricket in Rohtak, this was a dream realised through courage and conviction.
Their triumph was more than individual brilliance — it was a symbol of every girl who has ever picked up a bat and dared to dream.
From narrow streets to the grand stage of world cricket, they showed that women’s sport in India is no longer in the shadows and it is the story itself.
A Fightback for the Ages
India’s path to glory was anything but easy. After losing three consecutive matches and barely sneaking into the semifinals, the team rallied to upset Australia and then overcome South Africa in a dramatic final that began late due to rain and a damp outfield.
When the match finally began, Shafali and Smriti Mandhana gave India the perfect start — a 104-run opening stand built on poise and power. The pair also crossed 1,000 partnership runs as openers, a landmark that underlined their enduring chemistry at the top.
Shafali’s knock of 87 off 78 balls with seven fours and two sixes was fearless and free-flowing. She was dropped on 57, made South Africa pay, and fell just short of a century when she lobbed a tired shot to Sune Luus. Mandhana’s 45 and Deepti’s gritty 50, her third of the tournament, carried India to 298/7, a total that would test the best.
Deepti’s Spell of Destiny
If Shafali’s innings gave India hope, Deepti’s spell gave them history. She bowled with precision, heart, and guile, dismantling South Africa’s chase one wicket at a time.
Her five-for came at the perfect moments to break partnerships, silencing momentum, and keeping India’s nerves steady as the tension rose. As Laura Wolvaardt fought valiantly with a brilliant 101 off just 98 balls, Deepti kept attacking, never flinching under pressure.
Shafali’s twin strikes complemented her perfectly, as India closed out the win in the 46th over, and unleashed unbridled celebration.
The Captain’s Pride
When the final wicket fell, Harmanpreet Kaur stood still for a moment as a captain soaking in the realisation of a lifetime’s dream. The journey that began with heartbreaks in 2017 and 2020 had finally reached its destination.
