![India Women's World Cup glory long overdue [Source: AFP Photos]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1762166509405_india_women(1).jpg?type=hq)
India Women's World Cup glory long overdue [Source: AFP Photos]
There are some victories that sparkle brighter than gold. The India Women cricket team’s World Cup win in 2025 is one of them.
When Harmanpreet Kaur lifted that glittering trophy at the DY Patil Stadium, it wasn’t just a celebration of a match won but was the celebration of a dream decades in the making.
It was the sound of every woman who once carried her own kit bag through crowded train stations, who slept on dorm floors, and who played for passion when there was no money in the game.
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India Women once travelled on train floors
There was a time when women’s cricket in India didn’t make headlines. In the 1970s and 80s, players like Shantha Rangaswamy and Diana Edulji fought battles that had nothing to do with the opposition.
They battled lack of facilities, poor funding, and indifference. Teams travelled for two days in general train compartments, carrying their bedding and food.
There were four toilets for 20 players, daal served in plastic vessels, and three cricket bats shared among eleven players. Yet, no one complained and just played.
They played because they loved the game. They played because they believed that someday, somehow, things would change.
When India Women battled pay disparity
And slowly, they did. The 2005 World Cup, where Mithali Raj led India to their first-ever final, was a turning point. Although the team lost, they had captured the imagination of a nation that was only just beginning to notice them.
But recognition didn't translate into riches, as each player earned barely ₹1,000 per match. Still, they smiled and carried on.
Then came the 2006 merger of the Women’s Cricket Association of India with the BCCI, a quiet yet strong step that gave structure, visibility, and financial backing.
The likes of Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj became household names. Actor Mandira Bedi even gave up her own endorsement fee once to fund the team’s travel, a small gesture that showed how community and compassion built this sport brick by brick.
WPL laid the foundation of the historic & landmark achievement
The change accelerated after 2022, when the BCCI announced equal match fees for men and women. For the first time in history, women were paid equal money as their male counterparts, a moment of justice that was long overdue.
And when the Women’s Premier League (WPL) began, it brought exposure, sponsorships, and confidence. Young girls now had role models they could see, not just read about.
Fast forward to 2025, and India Women finally lift the World Cup. The sight of Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Richa Ghosh in tears said it all.
It wasn’t just about the final. It was about every battle fought in silence before it. Every rejection letter. Every night of uncertainty. Every time someone said, “Women can’t do it, they belong in the kitchen.”
A triumph 50 years in the making
This triumph belongs not just to the players on the field, but to every woman who refused to give up. It proves a fact that with persistence, even unseen, always comes fruit.
The journey from train floors to world champions is not about cricket but about courage, hope, and belief in oneself.
Because at the end of it all, glory doesn’t come overnight. It comes to those who keep showing up, even when no one is watching.
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