Fifty years after their debut on the world stage, India’s dream finally came true. In front of a roaring, full house at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium, India lifted their first-ever ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, defeating South Africa by 52 runs.
The scoreboard may show a number, but what played out was history – an evening where grit, resilience, and leadership converged under the brightest lights. The sound was deafening, the emotion unmistakable. The roar that swept through Mumbai that night wasn’t just celebration, it was history catching up.
For a cricket-obsessed nation that had long waited for its women to stand shoulder to shoulder with its men, this was more than a sporting victory. It was the spark of a new era. A campaign of redemption and resilience, India’s journey from three early defeats in the group stage to an unbeaten knockout run was as dramatic as it was defining.
Calm Amid Chaos
The dressing room hours before the final was a study in composure. Coach Amol Majumdar moved quietly among the players, leading not with noise but with presence. No grand gestures, no rousing speeches, just calm, focused guidance that shaped the team’s mindset. He reminded them that pressure was not a threat but proof that they were in the right place.
It was a quiet reminder that leadership isn’t always about visibility; sometimes, it’s about preparing others to act decisively when it matters most.
On the field, Harmanpreet Kaur embodied that ethos. Her leadership wasn’t about authority or volume; it was about clarity of thought, calculated risk-taking, and faith in her team’s abilities. After three straight defeats in the group stage, critics questioned every move, but Harmanpreet stayed composed. She restructured the batting order, bringing Jemimah Rodrigues back into the XI and promoting her to No. 3 – a decision that would prove decisive.
Semifinal Brilliance: Jemimah Rodrigues
The semifinal against Australia was a defining leadership moment in itself. India stumbled early, losing two quick wickets and facing a record target of 338. Jemimah Rodrigues, after a period of self-doubt and being dropped earlier in the tournament, walked in with the weight of expectation squarely on her shoulders.
What followed was a fearless blend of instinct and intent. Her unbeaten 127, anchored by a 167-run partnership with Harmanpreet, guided India through one of the greatest chases in women’s cricket history. It wasn’t just an innings of technical excellence, it was a display of composure, decision-making, and emotional control under immense pressure.
That night, India didn’t just win a semifinal. They redefined belief.
Leadership in Action: The Final
November 2, 2025 — the final. Shafali Verma, standing in for the injured Pratika Rawal, walked to the crease with fearless intent. Her 87 runs off 78 balls set the foundation for India’s innings. But it was her bowling that changed the course of the game. Handed the ball by Harmanpreet in the tense middle overs, Shafali struck gold by taking Sune Luus’s wicket with her second delivery and Marizanne Kapp with her seventh, halting South Africa’s chase in its tracks.
Every fielding position, every catch, every tactical call reflected a shared culture of trust and leadership. Amanjot Kaur’s tumbling catch to dismiss Wolvaardt – a moment that could have defined or undone the match – was executed with precision, presence of mind, and nerve. It was a reminder that leadership often manifests not in moments of comfort, but in critical, high-pressure junctures.
Deepti Sharma, too, showcased dual brilliance. Her run-a-ball 58 provided stability in India’s innings, followed by a devastating 5-for-39 that dismantled South Africa’s batting line-up. Across the tournament, Deepti’s all-round performance underlined how individual mastery and team alignment reinforce each other, a lesson every leader understands.
The Turning Point: Richa Ghosh
And then there was Richa Ghosh – the quiet storm behind the stumps. Her role was less flamboyant but no less crucial. In the semifinal, her lightning-quick stumping of Alyssa Healy shifted the game’s momentum. In the final, she absorbed immense pressure with the bat, crafting a vital 42 off 35 balls when India’s innings wavered.
It wasn’t just her skill, but her temperament that stood out. Richa represented the new age of leadership – confident, instinctive, and unafraid to take responsibility. Her ability to stay grounded under fire, read the game intuitively, and deliver when it mattered most echoed a timeless truth: success is often built on silent anchors who hold their ground when the noise peaks.
The Power of Quiet Leadership
Coach Amol’s influence framed the entire campaign. His leadership was about preparing the team to think, anticipate, and execute without constant direction. He modelled resilience, adaptability, and humility – qualities CEOs and executives often value in high-performing teams. Leadership, in this sense, is less about spectacle and more about creating environments where talent, trust, and discipline converge at the right moment.
Harmanpreet’s calm decisiveness, Jemimah’s rise under pressure, Shafali’s fearlessness, Amanjot’s nerve, and Deepti’s consistency reflected a team that had internalised these lessons. They were empowered to act, yet aligned to a common goal.
Beyond the Trophy
As fireworks lit the sky over Navi Mumbai, the air felt heavier with meaning – not just victory, but validation. The enduring image wasn’t just Harmanpreet holding the cup aloft, but a team standing hand in hand, tears in their eyes, history in their grasp.
This wasn’t merely India’s first Women’s World Cup. It was a triumph fifty years in the making and a story of resilience, belief, and leadership at every level.
This victory was more than a match. It was a masterclass in leadership in real time -strategic, instinctive, and transformative. India’s women didn’t just win a trophy; they redefined what’s possible, proving that with clarity, courage, and cohesion, extraordinary outcomes are within reach.
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