The Indian Women’s cricket team was honoured with the Sports Performance of the Year award at the NDTV Indian of the Year Awards, a proud moment that capped off a historic year for women’s cricket in the country. The award ceremony was held in New Delhi, celebrating India’s landmark achievements across sport and society.

Representing the team on stage were captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Player of the Tournament Deepti Sharma, semifinal hero Jemimah Rodrigues, and head coach Amol Muzumdar, all of whom played key roles in India’s remarkable campaign. Their presence symbolised the collective effort behind a triumph that will be remembered as a turning point in Indian women’s cricket.

Historic World Cup triumph earns Indian women national recognition

India earned the recognition after clinching their maiden Women’s World Cup title in any format, a long-awaited breakthrough that ended years of near misses on the global stage. The team sealed history with a composed and confident victory over South Africa in the final, showcasing resilience, tactical discipline, and belief under pressure.

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BIGGEST MOMENT OF INDIAN SPORTS IN 2025 🇮🇳

Women's team winning the World Cup and now they won the NDTV Sports performance of the year. 🥇

It's great to see everyone celebrating Indian Women's Cricket. pic.twitter.com/bDIEqYHfhp

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 19, 2025

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Throughout the tournament, India delivered consistent performances across departments. Deepti Sharma emerged as one of the standout performers, contributing crucial runs and wickets to earn the Player of the Tournament honour. Jemimah Rodrigues played a defining role in the semifinal, producing a match-winning innings when it mattered most. Under Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership, the side displayed maturity and fearlessness, while coach Amol Muzumdar’s guidance helped shape a balanced and mentally strong unit.

The NDTV award recognises more than just a trophy, it acknowledges a historic sporting achievement that has elevated the profile of women’s cricket in India. This World Cup victory has inspired millions of young girls to dream big and reinforced India’s growing strength in the women’s game.

As the team continues to build on this success, the award stands as a reminder of how perseverance, teamwork, and belief can turn long-standing dreams into reality.

On Friday (November 7), Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis met ICC Women's World Cup 2025 winning team India cricketers Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Radha Yadav at the CM's official residence, 'Varsha,' in south Mumbai. Fadnavis marked the trio the "Pride of Maharashtra." He also thanked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Jay Shah for his effort to take Indian women's cricket into an advanced stage. 

Along with these three cricketers, the state government has acknowledged the contributions from the head coach of the team and the support staff as well. CM Fadnavis presented a cash reward of Rs 2.25 crore each for Mandhana, Rodrigues, and Yadav. The cricket team's coach, Amol Muzumdar, was presented with a check of Rs 22.5 lakh, while each member of the support staff was given Rs 11 lakh. Fadnavis mentioned that this achievement came because of a collective effort. He especially mentioned the match-turning batting of Jemimah Rodrigues in the semifinal against Australia. 

"You've made Maharashtra proud. Your victory has brought immense joy to the state. Jemimah's century in the semifinal was a turning point; it took us to the finals. The way this team fought back and played like a family shows what true teamwork means," the Maharashtra CM said. 

Read More: WATCH: Women's World Cup 2025 winning Richa Ghosh receives grand welcome in home town Siliguri

Maharashtra CM felicitated Women's World Cup 2025 winning memebers

"The world has taken note of the fact that the World Cup, which traditionally went to a select group of countries, has for the first time come to India. It is a matter of immense pride. The entire team has performed brilliantly."

Maharashtra CM felicitating Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah and Radha while handing over the 2.25cr cheque. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/3aj17SQNtR

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 7, 2025

In the final, India went to bat first and scored 298 runs in exchange for 7 wickets. In the second innings, South Africa started the run chase well with Tazmin Brits and their skipper, Laura Wolvaardt. After the first wicket down, Laura appeared as their only hope to win the final. She smashed 101 runs. But a solo effort was not enough to win the summit clash. The India Women's Cricket Team won the World Cup for the first time in the history of cricket.

ICC Women's World Cup 2025 winning team India star Richa Ghosh arrived at her hometown, Siliguri, West Bengal, with a grand welcome on Friday (November 7). 

Richa Ghosh, the wicketkeeper-batter, was a constant and key figure behind India's maiden World Cup-winning campaign. She played a crucial 34-run knock in the final against the South Africa Women's team. But Richa's best batting performance came out during the India Women vs. South Africa Women group stage match at Visakhapatnam. In that match, she scored 94 runs against 77 deliveries, with the help of 11 boundaries and 4 over boundaries. Though, South Africa was the better performer than India for that encounter. 

A day ago, when the India Women's Cricket Team went to the Prime Minister's residence to meet with PM Narendra Modi, Richa got an appraisal from the Prime Minister himself. During the conversation with the team members, PM Modi said to Ghosh, "Richa, you win every game you play, don’t you? Richa gets a chance everywhere." 

Read More: Former Pakistan pacer who took 5 wickets in IND vs PAK WC 2011 semifinal got major role in PCB

Richa Ghosh received grand welcome in Siliguri, her home town

#WATCH | West Bengal: Cricketer Richa Ghosh returned to her home in Siliguri today, amid a grand welcome. She is a part of the World Cup-winning Indian Women's team. pic.twitter.com/o0YjHF6JRX

— ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2025

In reply she said, "Don’t know, sir. But yes, when we were under-19s, seniors, and in the WPL, we used to win trophies."

In the final, India went to bat first and scored 298 runs in exchange for 7 wickets. In the second innings, South Africa started the run chase well with Tazmin Brits and their skipper, Laura Wolvaardt. After the first wicket down, Laura appeared as their only hope to win the final. She smashed 101 runs. But a solo effort was not enough to win the summit clash. The India Women's Cricket Team won the World Cup for the first time in the history of cricket. 

Pratika Rawal, one of India’s young stars in the Women’s World Cup 2025, was first denied her winner’s medal because of an injury that forced her to miss the knockout matches. The talented opener had played a big part in India’s road to victory but was left out of the final celebrations. Thankfully, after Jay Shah’s personal intervention, Rawal will now receive her well-earned winner’s medal.

The confusion began because, under ICC rules, only the final 15-member squad at the end of the tournament is eligible for medals. Since Rawal was replaced by Shafali Verma after her injury, she was not listed in the final squad. Even though she had helped India reach the knockout stage with important performances, she didn’t qualify under the rules.

During the team’s official celebration, Rawal joined her teammates in a wheelchair but did not receive a medal. Later, when she was seen wearing a support-staff medal while meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, people began asking questions about why a key player had been left out. The incident quickly sparked debate among fans about how players should be recognized for their efforts, even if they miss the finals due to injury.

Jay Shah Steps In to Help

To clear the matter, Pratika Rawal spoke to CNN News18 and shared that Jay Shah, ICC Chairman and former BCCI secretary, stepped in to fix the issue. “Jay Shah intervened and told us he wants to make sure I get a medal of my own. It is on the way. I will get it soon,” Rawal said. His action ensured that her contribution would not be forgotten.

See Also: Former World Cup winner likely to replace Ajit Agarkar as chairman of the BCCI selection committee

Before her injury, Rawal had an amazing tournament, scoring 308 runs in six innings with an average of 51.33. Her 122-run knock against New Zealand was one of the highlights of the World Cup. She also became the joint-fastest woman to reach 1,000 ODI runs. Now, with her medal on the way, Pratika Rawal finally gets the recognition she truly deserves.

PM Narendra Modi and all the Women's World Cup 2025 winning team India players were surprised to hear a question from all-rounder Harleen Deol. It was a candid question from Deol, which left everyone in laughter.

On Wednesday, November 5, the India Women's Cricket Team visited the PM's residence to meet with him after creating history in Navi Mumbai. India defeated South Africa Women's to lift the World Cup for the first time ever. During the group conversation, Deol asked the prime minister about his skincare routine.

"Mujhe aapki skincare routine puchni thi, aap bahut glow karte ho sir (I wanted to ask you about your skincare routine, sir—you really have a glow)," Harleen said. This single question caused everyone to laugh, including PM Modi himself. In reply, PM said that he had never thought about this matter before. This glow can be because of the love he received from countless people around the world.

Read More: Who is Adar Poonawalla who may acquire RCB ahead of IPL 2026?

Harleen Deol's question left everyone in surprise including PM Modi

"Haven’t really paid much attention to this topic, but this glow comes from the love and blessings of millions of people; that’s true. It’s a great source of strength. I’ve been the head of the government for 25 years now; that’s a long time. But when you receive so many blessings, it shows," Modi replied after a brief spell of laughter. 

Harleen Deol asking the skincare routine of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 😄 pic.twitter.com/sFmFzDEmXb

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 6, 2025

India's road to winning the World Cup was not smooth. They started their campaign by winning back-to-back matches but soon lost the momentum and got defeated in multiple matches. They bounced back strongly by playing New Zealand Women's in their group stage match. After the group stage hurdle, for India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, there was no turning back. In the semifinal, they edged past Australia in a heroic manner, thanks to a century from Jemimah Rodrigues. And then, finally, India became the champion. 

Indian cricket fans are still relishing the historic moment of India's Women's World Cup 2025 win, defeating South Africa Women's in the final match of the tournament. Cricket fans congratulated the entire team for achieving the incredible feat. Did Dhanashree Verma watch the IND-W vs. SA-W Women's World Cup Final match? Paparazzi asked the question to the well-known choreographer and actress of the industry. 

In reply, what Dhanashree said was probably not what anyone was expecting. Correcting the question, she said, "Kal nahin, parso tha (Not yesterday, it was the day before)." The reply from Varma was in a funny way, though. 

During the historic moment when Team India outclassed South Africa in Navi Mumbai, Varma shared a post on her Instagram handle to celebrate India's victory in the final. She posted a video of the winning moment while watching the game. The caption of her post reads, "To the queens, womennnnnnnnnn #India ICC world champions #WomenInBlue," she captioned the post.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by F I L M Y G Y A N (@filmygyan)

Read More: Happy Birthday Virat Kohli: All players who wish the legend on his 37th birthday

India's road to lift the Women's World Cup 2025 trophy in brief: 

India began their campaign with back-to-back wins in the group stage. But after getting victories against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, the Women in Blue brigade lost their momentum and tasted three consecutive defeats against South Africa, Australia, and England. They then bounced back with a crucial 53-run win against New Zealand and confirmed a ticket to the semi-final.

In the semi, Harmanpreet Kaur and her team met again with Australia. Australia, batting first, posted a massive total of 338 on the board. In reply, Jemimah Rodrigues smashed a match-winning, unbeaten hundred-plus-run innings to chase down the target. Kaur also accompanied her well during the middle overs of the game. In the final, India with ease defeated South Africa and claimed their maiden World Cup trophy. 

The ICC Women's World Cup 2025 ended with an iconic moment for Indian cricket, as the Women in Blue lifted their first-ever World Cup trophy. In an exciting final at DY Patil Stadium on November 2, India defeated South Africa to become World Champions. This incredible victory also made India the first Asian country to win the ICC Women’s World Cup in any format, marking a new beginning for women's cricket.

Interestingly, the win from 2025 matches the men’s ODI World Cup victory in 2011 in some fascinating ways. Both wins took place in Mumbai, albeit at different venues, with DY Patil Stadium hosting the women's victory and the Wankhede hosting the men's win. There are five other similarities that are just as interesting about these two historic World Cup winning campaigns for India that show how good India is at cricket.

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Final match happened on 2nd date of the month

On April 2, 2011, the Indian men's cricket team, led by MS Dhoni, made it into the record books as the first team to win the ICC Men's World Cup on home soil. In a spectacular final match against Sri Lanka, Dhoni played an unbeaten innings in which every Indian player pulled together to achieve a moment that millions of Indian fans would remember for generations. The win came after waiting almost 28 years for the title and propelled India into a position of dominance in world cricket for generations to come, inspiring a nation full of fans and future cricketers. 

Fourteen years and seven months later, history repeated itself — this time through the Indian women's team. On November 2, 2025, kicked off by Harmanpreet Kaur, India pulled off a magnificent win to clinch the ICC Women's World Cup title against South African in an electrifying game in front of hundreds of home fans, India’s first all-time women's World Cup title. From women's success on home soil to the dates themselves, the coincidence was exquisite — and this was poetic on many levels, which reflected India's progression in women's cricket.

Indian team played 1 match outside India against an Asian team in 2011 World Cup and Women's World Cup 2025

The 2011 ICC Men’s World Cup occurred in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. India played most of their matches in India, and the combination of friendly conditions and home support was vital to the tournament's success. Under captain MS Dhoni, India miraculously even had one group stage match that took place outside of India — against Bangladesh in Dhaka — which they won, taking the wind in their sails into a successful tournament run. 

Likewise, the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup was co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with Harmanpreet Kaur’s side playing most of their fixtures at home. Mirroring the 2011 men's pattern, India had an away group-stage match in Colombo, which they dominated over arch-rivals Pakistan. The victory not only was a confidence booster but echoed the consistency and advantage of India’s men’s run in 2011.

See Also: Happy Birthday Virat Kohli: All players who wish the legend on his 37th birthday

India lost to South Africa and England in the group stage

In the 2011 Men's World Cup, India was dealt a blow to the team's title aspirations in Nagpur when South Africa defeated the Men in Blue in their group stage encounter. Fourteen years later, the Indian women's team lost to South Africa (the Proteas) in their league stage clash in Visakhapatnam. 

During the group stage showdown between India and England in 2011, the fans would talk for years about how a tie happened in Bengaluru. Remarkably, fourteen years later, the women's team would lose to the same opponent (albeit by only four runs) in Indore.  

Indian opener with name starting from 'S' ends as 2nd highest run-scorer

During the men's World Cup in 2011, Sachin Tendulkar led India in runs scored with 482 after nine innings, averaging 53.55 runs per innings. He finished the series second amongst all players in runs scored, and played an integral role in India's first title-winning campaign. 

In 2025, Smriti Mandhana matched Tendulkar's achievement in leading India in runs scored, and originally finished second overall in runs scored, with 434 over nine innings, averaging 54.25 runs per innings. Both players hail from Maharashtra, highlighting the state's historic contributions towards India's leading batters. 

Trophy came after 3 seasons of a T20 league in the nation

The IPL commenced in 2008, and just three years later, India were crowned the Champions at the 2011 Men’s World Cup. Similarly, following the formation of the WPL in 2023, the Indian women’s team were victorious at the 2025 ODI World Cup, a remarkable parallel between milestones in men’s and women’s cricket.

To further add to the coincidence, both Indian Captains played a crucial role in securing their respective championship victory. In 2011, MS Dhoni hit the memorable winning six to give India a title victory, while in 2025, Harmanpreet Kaur displayed her calm under pressure by taking the final catch to guide India to their first-ever Women’s World Cup title in dramatic fashion.

It was a dream-come-true moment for the India Women's cricket team when they defeated South Africa Women's to lift the ICC Women's World Cup 2025. Jemimah Rodrigues played a very crucial role behind India's glory. Before the final match, India had to overcome a strong hurdle set by the multi-time champion Australia Women's team. 

Against a team that has experience in winning multiple trophies, it was not an easy task for Team India to outclass them. In a recent interview, the father of Jemimah Rodrigues revealed how MS Dhoni's influence helped for preparations before the tournament. Her father, Ivan Rodrigues, is an MS Dhoni fan. 

Ivan is still mesmerized by Dhoni's calmness and ability to make courageous decisions during crucial stages of matches. How was Dhoni able to take those match-turning decisions? How was the Indian women's team able to defeat Australia in the final? 'Mentality,' that's what Jemimah's father said during the interview. For mental preparations, Ivan told her daughter to study MS Dhoni. 

Read More: [WATCH] RCB shares special video to tribute Virat Kohli on his 37th birthday

MS Dhoni's influence behind the World Cup 2025 preparations of Jemimah Rodrigues

"To take down seven-time champions like Australia, you need the attitude of someone like MS Dhoni. That's exactly what I told her before she faced the Aussies. Dhoni revolutionized Indian cricket with his attitude, approach, willpower, and captaincy skills. If you have that kind of mindset, you can conquer any tournament," Jemimah Rodrigues' father said on camera. 

Jemimah Rodrigues' Father 🎙

To take down seven-time champions like Australia, you need the attitude of someone like MS Dhoni. That's exactly what I told her before she faced the Aussies. Dhoni revolutionized Indian cricket with his attitude, approach, willpower, and captaincy… pic.twitter.com/YeGMFLBOU0

— ` (@WorshipDhoni) November 5, 2025

For exceptional batting, the ICC included Jemimah in the honorary playing XI of the Women's World Cup 2025. During the semi-final, when India was up against Australia, the middle-order batter scored an unbeaten 127-run innings to successfully chase down a mammoth target of 339. Without that particular knock, India Women could be struck in deep trouble. 

In a historic and surreal moment for over a billion cricket fans across India and beyond, the Women's Cricket Team were crowned 'World Champions' for the first time, after defeating South Africa in a hard-fought finale in Navi Mumbai. With expectations so high, all the eyeballs on them, and widespread support, the Indian ladies, with immense determination and grit, elevated their game. They, in unison, produced a heart-stopping moment in front of the 45000-strong capacity crowd at the DY Patil Stadium, to lift the cup of their dreams.

In a cracker of a final, Deepti Sharma's all-round brilliance, Shafali Verma's top-order batting exploits, coupled with her incisive part-time bowling, and Amanjot Kaur's brilliance on the field, helped the team win their maiden ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, in their third appearance in the final. In what seems to be a ground-breaking occasion, this triumph, from years of heartbreak to history, is a revolution in women's cricket in India. Moreover, it resonates aptly with the men's victory in 1983, with Harmanpreet Kaur's final wicket catch synonymous with Kapil Dev's heroics back then. 

See Also: 'We Got Rs 1,000 Per Match' - Mithali Raj’s shocking revelation about the 2005 World Cup resurfaces

The Summary of the Final, India Vs South Africa, 2025

India backed a batting display of controlled aggression with a stupendous bowling performance, assisted by some fine fielding moments. They played with composure and never let the pressure of a home final get to them. Consequently, they gave everyone memories of a lifetime.

 Crucial Stands and Contributions for India - 

1st Wicket: 104 runs (106 balls) between Smriti Mandhana (45 off 58) and Shafali Verma (49 off 48). 

2nd Wicket: 62 runs (62 balls) between Shafali Verma (38 off 30) and Jemimah Rodrigues (23 off 32).

Deepti Sharma: 58 runs (58 balls) and 9.3-0-39-5

Crucial Contributions for South Africa -

Laura Wolvaardt (Proteas Skipper and their lone warrior in the final run-chase): 101 runs (98 balls).

The Subplots that shaped India's Campaign

Smriti-Pratika Opening Duo 

Sparks flew when the openers finally fired. Smriti Mandhana, the Indian vice-captain, and Pratika Rawal's 155-run stand against Australia reignited India's top-order, even in a losing cause, then at the round-robin stage. This marked a turning point as belief began to develop. The blueprint was adopted for what was to follow in the latter half of the tournament.

Under pressure in a must-win game against New Zealand, Smriti smashed a match-defining ton. With Pratika, who also struck a century in that match, she had a mammoth opening stand of 212 runs. This powered India into the knockouts after a massive scare of three consecutive league stage defeats against South Africa, Australia and England. 

However, the team suffered a major blow during the washed-out match against Bangladesh, when Pratika fractured her ankle. While fielding, she had a nasty fall, got severely injured, and was eventually ruled out for the remainder of the tournament. She finished her World Cup campaign as the second-highest run scorer of the team. 

Shafali's Redemption

Overlooked as part of the squad for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, and not even in the reserves at the start, Shafali Verma experienced agony, confusion and eventual ecstasy, all combined during a brief period of time. Destiny had better plans.

Called up for the knockouts, as a replacement for the injured opener Pratika Rawal, the Haryana player seized her moment with an all-round performance in the final. Scripting a fairytale, she scored a knock of 87 runs at a blistering rate and backed it up with her surprise part-time bowling. Full of confidence, trusted by the skipper, Harmanpreet Kaur, and the team management alike, she scalped two crucial Proteas wickets. This provided India with the necessary impetus for a breakthrough and recharged their hopes for the ultimate glory.

Her valuable returns made her presence feel like going from once forgotten to forever unforgettable. She was also adjudged the player of the match in the final. 

Jemimah, India's Gem

Jemimah Rodrigues produced a magical batting display in the semi-final clash against Australia, the seven-time champions, then-holders, and unbeaten in the tournament until that point. Chasing a humongous total of 339 runs and in a situation full of pressure, the Mumbai player, in front of her family, played the innings of her life. She scored an unbeaten 127 to take India into their third ODI World Cup final.

An emotional Jemimah, post the match, admitted her struggles with mental health, being dropped from the team, and the feeling of support from her loved ones and coaches. She further thanked the Almighty for enlightening her path and helping her navigate the tough times.  

Amanjot's Clutch Moments

Amanjot Kaur had a World Cup debut to remember. In India's opening match against Sri Lanka, her knock of 57 runs and a 104-run partnership with Deepti Sharma rescued the team from an early collapse. Her resilience during that crisis paved the way for lower-order batters to fight in case the top order stumbles.

In the final, her brilliance in the field proved to be the difference between the sides. The Punjab player first left her mark by producing a heist, a scintillating run-out of the South African opening batter T. Brits. Fielding at mid-off, Amanjot ran the Proteas player, stealing a single, out, by directly hitting the stumps.

Secondly, towards the end, at the most crucial and deciding moment of the match, Kaur caught the opposition skipper, Laura Wolvaardt, and their best batter, on 101 runs, at the deep midwicket position. The Indian all-rounder covered good ground to get under the ball, but in a heart-skipping moment for everyone, fumbled twice before holding onto the catch in her third attempt.

Richa's Power

India's wicket-keeper batter, Richa Ghosh, became synonymous with the counter-attacking style of cricket in this World Cup. Her explosive batting punches provided India with a great finish towards the end. Her unbeaten innings of 94 runs against South Africa in the league stage was a show of immense instinct, power and hitting skills. Her display proved that India's middle and lower order could fight back hard in times of distress and otherwise. 

Deepti's All-Round Brilliance

India's Deepti Sharma bagged the player of the tournament award for her all-round exploits in the recently concluded Women's World Cup 2025. She finished as the highest wicket-taker in the competition, scalping 22 wickets in total. Her batting didn't go unnoticed either. She finished as India's sixth-highest run scorer, amassing 215 runs in 9 matches, and with three half-centuries. With a fifty and 4 wickets, she stood tall in the 4-run loss to England. During the final, her run-a-ball score of 58 runs, coupled with a fifer in bowling, sealed her 'Most Valuable Player (MVP)' status. 

Champions of the World 💙🇮🇳

I’ve seen this dream for over two decades, to watch the Indian women lift that World Cup trophy.

Tonight, that dream finally came true.

From the heartbreak of 2005 to the fight of 2017, every tear, every sacrifice, every young girl who picked up a… pic.twitter.com/MgClC7QE9J

— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) November 2, 2025