NEW DELHI: The moment Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur took the catch of Nadine de Klerk at extra cover left an indelible mark on Indian cricket fans, as the team defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the final to become only the fourth side to lift the Women's World Cup title.

Harmanpreet Kaur touches guruji's feet, calls Jhulan, Mithali to lift the Cup - a night to remember

Not only the players and support staff, but the entire nation erupted in celebration as never before, as the watershed moment for Indian women's cricket finally arrived - after years of toil and near-misses culminated in an evening of redemption and history.

The heart-touching moment unfolded when Harmanpreet Kaur walked up to receive the trophy from ICC Chair Jay Shah - what followed next truly made Indian fans emotional. The two shared a warm handshake, and in a gesture of respect rooted in Indian tradition, Harmanpreet bowed down to touch Shah’s feet. However, Shah displayed true gentlemanly grace, gently stopping her with a nod and urging her not to do so.

It turned out to be the emotional crescendo of the night - a moment that touched millions across the country. Social media lit up with admiration, with fans calling it the perfect reflection of Indian values - where respect met humility on the sport's biggest stage.

Soon, the mood shifted from sentimental to electric. With the World Cup trophy finally in her hands, Harmanpreet shared a brief smile with Shah before turning toward her ecstatic teammates - and that's when the celebration truly began.

The Indian skipper, ever the entertainer, playfully feigned lifting the trophy before hoisting it high into the night sky. Fireworks erupted, cheers filled the air, and emotions spilled over. One by one, every player raised the gleaming cup, each lift marked by laughter, tears, and the pure, unfiltered joy of history made.

Shafali Verma, the 21-year-old, who till last week wasn't even in the reserves, created memories of a lifetime by scoring 87 in India's 298 for 7 and then grabbed a couple of crucial wickets to restrict the Proteas Women to 246 in in front of a packed DY Patil Stadium.

The seasoned Deepti Sharma (5/39) and young Shree Charani (1/48) also did their bit under extreme pressure to usher in the most memorable day for women's cricket in the country.