The Indian women’s team scripted history on Sunday (November 2) after beating South Africa by 52 runs in the final to clinch their maiden ODI World Cup trophy at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
Led by Shafali Verma's sensational knock of 87 and Deepti Sharma's five-wicket haul, the Women in Blue emerged victorious on the biggest stage, breaking their long-awaited jinx.
In a video shared on his Instagram account, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar called India’s historic Women’s World Cup triumph a defining moment in the country’s cricketing journey, while also adding that it will be remembered for ages.
“What a wonderful time it was at the D.Y. Patil Stadium yesterday when Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of the Indian women’s team, took the catch for India to win the ICC Women’s World Cup. What a moment it was. It was a magnificent moment," Gavaskar said.
The triumphant campaign was far from smooth for Harmanpreet Kaur-led side as they faced heavy backlash in the middle of the tournament following three successive defeats. However, the team fought back brilliantly and registered crucial victories against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa to lift the coveted title.
“It was terrific to see the way the girls fought. They came back after having a difficult league stage, but the captain showed great character, great determination and went on to win the World Cup. It’s a moment to savour, it’s a moment to cherish, it’s a moment to remember for the ages," Gavaskar added.
The 76-year-old described the win in Navi Mumbai as a landmark moment for both men’s and women’s cricket in India. “It’s a wonderful moment in the history of Indian cricket, men’s and women’s. Many, many congratulations to Harmanpreet Kaur and her team for giving us so much happiness, so much joy. The entire cricketing community is very, very proud of you. Well done, congratulations."
