MUMBAI – Prime Minister Narendra Modi led tributes to India’s women cricketers after their “historic” triumph in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup final on Sunday, where they defeated South Africa by 52 runs to claim their maiden world title.
The victory at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium marked a fairytale ending for the team, who had previously suffered heartbreak in the 2005 and 2017 finals. Despite three early defeats in the tournament, India made a remarkable comeback — storming into the semi-finals and pulling off a record chase against seven-time champions Australia before clinching glory in front of 40,000 jubilant fans.
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Prime Minister Modi praised the team’s “exceptional teamwork and tenacity,” calling the win a moment that “will motivate future champions to take up sports.” The Indian Cricket Board announced a cash prize of ₹510 million ($5.8 million) for the team, while local media celebrated the triumph as “Herstoric.”
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur described the moment as a turning point for women’s cricket in India, saying, “We’ve been playing good cricket for years, but we had to win one big tournament to bring real change. Today, we got the chance to live that dream.”
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Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar hailed the victory as “a defining moment in the journey of Indian women’s cricket,” comparing it to the men’s 1983 World Cup win that transformed the nation’s sporting landscape. Former captain Mithali Raj also celebrated the milestone, saying, “Every tear, every sacrifice, every young girl who picked up a bat believing we belong here — it all led to this moment.”