After enduring years of near-misses and heartbreaks, Smriti Mandhana struggled to hold back her emotions as she reflected on the journey in the build-up to India’s maiden ICC Women’s World Cup title win on Sunday at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.
Mandhana, who scored a crucial 45 and stitched a 104-run opening stand with fellow opener Shafali Verma, set the tone for what would become the biggest night in Indian women’s cricket. Shafali’s blistering 87 and Deepti Sharma’s all-round brilliance, a run-a-ball 58 followed by a sensational five-wicket haul (5/39), powered India to a 52-run win over South Africa, making India only the fourth nation ever to win the Women’s ODI World Cup.
For Mandhana, the triumph was not just a win, but the culmination of years of silent wounds carried from past campaigns.
“Every World Cup we’ve gone into, there have been so many heartbreaks for all of us. However, we always believed that we had a greater responsibility, not just to win, but to continue growing women’s cricket. And 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 said.
“And honestly, 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 added.
The team song, four years in waiting
While the victory sparked tears and celebrations, it also unlocked something the team had been saving for the perfect moment, the official Team India anthem. Jemimah Rodrigues, the team’s most infectious spirit, finally revealed the song that had been kept secret since 2021.
“We decided this four years back that we will only reveal the team song when we win the World Cup, and tonight’s the night,” Jemimah said in a BCCI video, before breaking into the chorus with her teammates, coaches and support staff joining in unison: “Team India, Team India, karde sabki hawa tight, team India is here to fight, koi na lega humko light, oooooooo, our future is bright….. saath me challenge, saath me uthenge, hum hain team India hum saath me jeetenge. Naa lega koi panga, kar denge hum danga, rahega sabse upar, humara tiranga. Hum hain team India, clap clap clap, Hum hain team India, clap clap clap, Hum hain team Indiaaaaaaa.”
That raw, unrehearsed victorious anthem clearly depicted years of scars finally healing.
Jemimah later revealed the mindset that fuelled India through the pressure of the final. “We entered the match with full awareness that South Africa posed a significant threat and were entirely capable of chasing down a target of 299 runs, particularly given their history of achieving such formidable totals in high-pressure situations.”
“Within our dressing room, the focus was on maximizing this opportunity, recognizing that this specific combination of players might never share the field again in exactly the same configuration. We made a collective pledge to pour our entire hearts and souls into those 50 overs, vowing to leave every last ounce of our effort on the ground in pursuit of victory,” she added.
Head coach Amol Muzumdar, who took over two years ago and rebuilt India’s belief system, described the victory a defining moment for the nation.
“It is genuinely challenging to articulate the full depth of emotions and significance surrounding this moment, but I can state with absolute conviction that this remarkable group of athletes truly merits every accolade and every success that will undoubtedly follow this extraordinary triumph.
“I have witnessed firsthand the immense dedication and relentless effort they have invested throughout this journey. Securing the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 title on our home soil is, without any exaggeration, a definitive watershed moment that will fundamentally reshape the landscape and trajectory of Indian cricket for generations to come,” he said.