India's masterpiece: A starry night in Mumbai

Just after midnight, as the winning catch nestled in Harmanpreet Kaur's palms, she took off for a euphoric run with the chasing pack, led by Smriti Mandhana, right behind. The joy on her face said everything. The baggage of two decades, and two previous finals, had finally given way.

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India downed South Africa by 52 runs to win the Women's ODI World Cup 2025. (Getty)

(Getty)

Harmanpreet didn't fling the ball away in triumph. She instead clutched it through the night of celebration, for it wasn't just a piece of leather anymore, but history now.

The support staff sneaked in the national flags, sprinting on to the field to join the raw outpouring of emotion while ensuring the team walked back in the backdrop of the tricolour they had done proud. Once the handshakes were over, the hugs quickly followed. Radha Yadav took one of the flags and wrapped it around Harmanpreet and Mandhana, sealing their longest hug of the night yet - one that seemed to last the length of their shared journey this past decade. From the torchbearers, and leaders of this generation to now immortal icons. Maybe it was a symbolic closure - the baton formally passed. But the drama was still unfolding.

It had barely been a few minutes, and none of this had sunk in yet, but the team did not forget to wheel in young Pratika Rawal. Proudly flaunting her India jersey, Rawal teared up too. She didn't get her own winners' medal - for she was withdrawn following a hairline fracture ahead of the knockouts - but Mandhana quietly slipped her own over Rawal's neck. Mandhana's gesture was a silent acknowledgement that even though Rawal's name didn't appear on the team-sheet for the final, her effort was stitched into the history they had just scripted. Rawal gently protested but Mandhana only wheeled her forward onto the podium for trophy handover, ensuring her fellow opener's contribution too found its place in the frame.

Slightly to their right, Harmanpreet and Shafali Verma were huddled together, rehearsing the trophy celebration.