Tears, gratitude and history came together at the DY Patil Stadium as India’s women’s cricket team, fresh from their maiden ICC Women’s World Cup triumph, paid an emotional tribute to their mentors Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami — two of the greatest to ever play the game.
As the newly crowned champions began their victory lap, captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her teammates invited Mithali and Jhulan to join them on the field. To the crowd’s thunderous applause, they handed the World Cup trophy to the two icons who had carried Indian women’s cricket for nearly two decades.
‘Thank You,’ Says Mithali, Tears Flow for Jhulan
For Mithali Raj, India’s first captain to lead a team to a Women’s World Cup final, words were few but full of feeling.
“Thank you… I am so happy,” she said softly, her eyes glistening as she lifted the trophy — a dream she had chased for years, now finally realised through her protégées.
Jhulan Goswami, the world’s leading wicket-taker in women’s ODIs, couldn’t hold back her tears. She hugged Harmanpreet and Smriti Mandhana, smiling through the emotion as the young players who once looked up to her as a role model celebrated around her.
Anjum Chopra, another former India captain, also joined the celebrations and was honoured with the trophy. The first to receive it from the team was Reema Malhotra, who joyfully sang “Sadda Haq” from Rockstar with the newly crowned world champions — a moment that perfectly captured the emotion and unity of Indian women’s cricket.
Even the broadcasters decided not to cut to commercials, choosing instead to air the raw, unfiltered celebration live. It was a scene that summed up the past, present, and future of women’s cricket in India — emotional, triumphant, and full of gratitude.
Harmanpreet’s Heartfelt Words
Speaking about sharing the trophy with her idols, Harmanpreet Kaur said she owed much of her career to Jhulan and Anjum’s guidance.
“Jhulan Di was my biggest support. When I joined the team, she was leading it and always helped me when I was raw and new. Anjum Di too supported me in my early days. I learnt a lot from them, and I’ve tried to pass that on to my team. It was a very emotional moment — I think we all were waiting for this. Finally, we were able to touch this trophy together.”
A Victory Years in the Making
India’s win over South Africa by 52 runs marked not just the team’s first-ever World Cup title but also the culmination of a 20-year dream for legends like Mithali and Jhulan, who had come heartbreakingly close in 2005 and 2017.
As fireworks lit up the Mumbai sky, the handover of the trophy to India’s trailblazers symbolised more than victory — it was the passing of a legacy, from those who paved the way to those who made history.
