'So Many Heartbreaks, But…’: Emotional Smriti Mandhana Opens Up After India's Historic Triumph

Star India opener Smriti Mandhana has said that even as innumerable World Cups brought heartbreaks for the team, the side believed that there was a bigger responsibility for them to keep growing women’s

cricket in the country. The star batter was visibly emotional after India won their maiden ICC title.

Indian women’s cricket touched its Everest as years of toil and near-misses culminated in an evening of redemption and history for the hosts.

India’s win in the 13th edition of the global showpiece made them only the fourth team to lift the trophy, joining Australia (7 titles), England (4) and New Zealand (1) in the elite list of champions.

“Every World Cup we have gone into, there have been so many heartbreaks for all of us. But we always believed that we had a bigger responsibility – not just to win, but to keep growing women’s cricket,” Mandhana said while speaking to the host broadcasters.

“And honestly, just look at the support we have had over the last month and a half. It has been incredible. To finally lift the World Cup today – I will take those 45 sleepless nights any day for this moment,” Mandhana added. 

The star Indian batter finished the tournament as the second-highest run-scorer, with 434 runs in nine matches at a stunning average of 54.25.

With the win, Harmanpreet’s side exorcised the ghosts of the 2005 and 2017 final heartbreaks, delivering India’s long-awaited World Cup win, a defining moment for women’s cricket in the nation.

After posting 298/7, the second-highest total in tournament history, India held their nerve to bundle out South Africa for 246 in the 46th over.

The Proteas’ fight was anchored by skipper Laura Wolvaardt’s sublime 98-ball 101, but Deepti Sharma (55 and 5/39) and Shafali Verma (87 and 2/36) produced match-winning all-round performances to seal India’s date with destiny.

India’s win was shaped by two cricketers with contrasting journeys.