I’ll take those 45 sleepless nights any day for winning the WC: Mandhana

After enduring years of near-misses and heartbreaks, Smriti Mandhana struggled to hold back her emotions as she reflected on the journey in the buildup to India's maiden ICC Women's World Cup title win on Sunday at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

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."