NEW DELHI: The Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian women's team scripted history on Sunday, finally lifting the coveted World Cup trophy in 2025. After years of agonizing near-misses in the finals of 2005 and 2017, the current squad defied all expectations, securing a dominant 52-run victory over South Africa in Navi Mumbai. The triumph itself was monumental, but it was the team's act during the celebrations that drew the most profound praise from men's cricket spin great, Ravichandran Ashwin.
The final was graced by the presence of several Indian women's cricket icons, including Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, and Anjum Chopra. These players represented the decades of struggle and effort that paved the way for the current generation's success. Their emotional presence in the stadium lent an extra layer of historical significance to the historic win.
In a beautiful, spontaneous act during the victory lap inside the DY Patil Stadium, Harmanpreet and her teammates deliberately handed the newly won trophy to both Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami. The former stars were visibly moved, turning emotional as they held the silverware that had eluded them during their own illustrious careers. It was a gesture of respect that instantly resonated across the cricket community.
Ravichandran Ashwin confessed he was deeply impressed by the genuine respect shown by the champions. Speaking on his YouTube channel, he wasted no time in lauding the current squad's humility. He stated firmly: "I actually take my hat off to the Indian women's team for that act."
He immediately highlighted the rare nature of the tribute by contrasting it with his own experience in the sport's high-profile circles. Ashwin observed that in front of the media, credit is often transactional, but true acknowledgment of the past is rare. He pointedly remarked, "The Indian men's team has never done something like this," emphasizing that he rarely sees genuine appreciation given to the previous generation.
Ashwin elaborated on the deep symbolic meaning of the gesture, noting that it went far beyond mere showmanship. By handing over the prize, the champions allowed their predecessors to truly share in the joy and final outcome. He beautifully summed up the moment: "By handing them the trophy, they allowed them to see with joy that the seeds they once planted and nurtured are now standing tall as winners today." This victory, he stressed, was the result of over two decades of consistent foundational effort.
For Ashwin, the sheer magnitude of this World Cup triumph means it should be rated above all others in Indian cricket. Despite the men’s team winning in 1983 and 2011, he ranked this achievement higher due to its broader cultural implications. He asserted: "I would put this and rate this as an even bigger and colossal achievement than any World Cup we have done."
He concluded by stressing that the win will fundamentally alter the future of the sport in India. This success has the power "to bring the girls out there to practice the game of cricket and take up the sport seriously as a career option," permanently changing the mindset and conditioning of every person associated with women's cricket in the country.
