Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur led her team to a historic ICC Women’s World Cup win. They defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the finals at Navi Mumbai. This victory marked India’s first-ever World Cup title in women’s cricket.
Harmanpreet expressed deep gratitude for sharing this moment with legends Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj. She highlighted their immense contributions to Indian women’s cricket. The team made sure to include them in the trophy celebration.
Jhulan was Harmanpreet’s biggest support when she joined the team. She guided the young player through her raw early days. Harmanpreet recalled how she quickly rose from playing with boys to representing the country.
Anjum Chopra also provided crucial mentorship during those formative years. Harmanpreet learned valuable lessons from her experienced teammate. She has since passed that wisdom on to her own squad.
Sharing the World Cup win with these stalwarts was incredibly emotional. Harmanpreet described it as a long-awaited achievement. Finally holding the trophy felt like a dream come true for everyone involved.
During the match, South Africa mounted a serious comeback attempt. Laura Wolvaardt and Annerie Dercksen built a threatening partnership. The chase of 299 runs was gaining momentum.
Harmanpreet kept her team focused with a simple message. She urged them to maintain faith in their abilities. Opportunities would present themselves in the long ODI format.
She emphasized their spinners’ strength throughout the tournament. Deepti Sharma and Shree Charani were trusted to break partnerships. The captain’s positive approach kept the team calm under pressure.
Shafali Varma’s entry into the team proved fortuitous. Harmanpreet believes it was destiny that brought her in. The young player didn’t feel like a replacement despite joining due to injuries.
The team faced multiple injury setbacks before and during the tournament. Yastika Bhatia’s departure was particularly heartbreaking. Pratika Rawal’s later injury tested their resilience.
Everyone maintained remarkable positivity despite these challenges. They focused on their ultimate goal of winning the trophy. This unity helped them overcome all obstacles.
In the final match, India built a strong foundation early. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma put together a century partnership. Jemimah Rodrigues contributed valuable runs in the middle order.
Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh provided the finishing flourish. Their aggressive batting pushed India to 298 runs. Ayabonga Khaka stood out among South African bowlers with three wickets.
South Africa started their chase with a fifty-run opening stand. Shafali Verma and Shree Charani then triggered a collapse. The Proteas found themselves struggling at 148 for five.
Wolvaardt’s brilliant century kept South Africa in contention. Her 61-run partnership with Dercksen rebuilt hope. However, Deepti Sharma’s magical spell turned the game decisively.
Deepti became the first Indian woman to take a World Cup final four-fer. She eventually completed a five-wicket haul. India bundled out South Africa for 246 to claim their maiden title.