Our Midnight Tryst With Destiny

In monetary gain, perception shift and the realisation of a long-held dream, the 2025 World Cup marks a watershed for women's cricket in India

- By MITHALI RAJ

When Harmanpreet leapt forward to grab that World Cup-winning catch and the roar of DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai shook the night sky, I felt something shift deep within. It wasn't just a victory. It was a dream fulfilled—one that generations of Indian women cricketers carried in our hearts. For years, we spoke of 1983—that golden summer when Indian cricket changed forever. All us women used to wonder, 'When will women's cricket in India have its 1983 moment?' Last Sunday night, we finally did. India lifted its first-ever ICC Women's Cricket World Cup trophy, defeating South Africa.