She-change for Indian cricket

THE MIDNIGHT RUN IN NOVEMBER WAS FORGED IN MANY YEARS OF HEARTBREAK

- VINAYAKK MOHANARANGAN

AS SHE COMPLETED a running catch, spread her wings and started to scorch the outfield at DY Patil Stadium at the stroke of a November midnight, Harmanpreet Kaur - with her own two hands - ended years of heartbreak she endured.A major trophy isn't won by one player or in one moment, but those few seconds will be replayed over and over for years and decades to come as the Indian women's cricket team made history by defeating South Africa to lift the World Cup.And after being at the heart of many a heartbreak in the past, it felt fitting that Kaur was central to India's triumph.

"After taking that catch, I was just holding the ball and running. I didn't know what to do, actually. I can't express the feeling of that moment in words.Aisa laga ki bas baagthe rahoon. Abhi koi rokhe na (I just felt like running nonstop and no one stops me)," the Indian captain would tell ICC a few hours later, posing with the trophy at the Gateway of India.