The Indian gamers who made historical past at ICC Ladies’s Cricket World Cup

[ad_1] Annesha Ghosh Sports activities Author

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/3e20/live/ad277610-baca-11f0-92f7-0da71265396f.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/3e20/live/ad277610-baca-11f0-92f7-0da71265396f.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/3e20/live/ad277610-baca-11f0-92f7-0da71265396f.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/3e20/live/ad277610-baca-11f0-92f7-0da71265396f.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/3e20/live/ad277610-baca-11f0-92f7-0da71265396f.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/3e20/live/ad277610-baca-11f0-92f7-0da71265396f.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/3e20/live/ad277610-baca-11f0-92f7-0da71265396f.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/3e20/live/ad277610-baca-11f0-92f7-0da71265396f.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images Renuka Singh of India bowls during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup India 2025 match between India and New Zealand at DY Patil Stadium on October 23, 2025 in Navi Mumbai, India. (Photo by Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC by way of Getty Photos After her father's dying, Renuka Singh Thakur's mom labored to help her desires

Earlier this week, the Indian ladies's cricket crew made historical past by successful its first World Cup title, almost 50 years after the facet performed its first worldwide match.

The ladies fought onerous for his or her win; after a three-match dropping streak within the round-robin stage, they overcame exterior and inner challenges to defeat then un-beaten Australia within the semi-final and a resolute South African facet within the closing.

The grit and dedication they confirmed on the sphere are mirrored of their lives off it.

Most of the gamers come from India's small cities and have had humble beginnings. They arrive from households that needed to sacrifice a lot to help their desires and believed in them when no-one else did.

These are ladies whose careers had been constructed enjoying cricket in village lanes, with second-hand bats and seam-less balls and lots of doubting their ambition due to their gender. Theirs is a legacy that was solid as a result of they stored going when it might have been simpler to cease.

Harmanpreet Kaur: Main with what she got here from

After the historic win was secured, captain Harmanpreet Kaur sprinted in direction of her father, Harmandar Singh Bhullar, the second she noticed him. She leapt onto him, wrapping her legs and arms round him as he held her. A captain - and a daughter- celebrated.

Born on 8 March 1989 in Moga city - lengthy generally known as the drug capital of the northern state of Punjab - Harmanpreet grew up in a household that stored its ambitions easy and its self-discipline agency.

Her father, a membership cricketer and clerk on the district courtroom, bought milk from the household's 4 buffaloes to help the family. Cricket gear was typically past attain.

Her first coach Yadwinder Singh Sodhi as soon as recalled how she educated with previous bats and seam-less balls as a result of that was what was out there.

Mr Bhullar ignored the neighbourhood chorus of "ladki ko khilaake kya karoge?" - what is going to you obtain by permitting your daughter to play cricket? He didn't argue with the naysayers. He merely let his daughter - the eldest of three siblings - play.

From these open grounds in Moga to the second she lifted the World Cup trophy at Mumbai's DY Patil stadium, the values didn't change for the Bhullars: work onerous, keep grounded, maintain going.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/79eb/live/80a4dfc0-bad3-11f0-9051-459b7a9b62e8.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/79eb/live/80a4dfc0-bad3-11f0-9051-459b7a9b62e8.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/79eb/live/80a4dfc0-bad3-11f0-9051-459b7a9b62e8.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/79eb/live/80a4dfc0-bad3-11f0-9051-459b7a9b62e8.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/79eb/live/80a4dfc0-bad3-11f0-9051-459b7a9b62e8.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/79eb/live/80a4dfc0-bad3-11f0-9051-459b7a9b62e8.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/79eb/live/80a4dfc0-bad3-11f0-9051-459b7a9b62e8.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/79eb/live/80a4dfc0-bad3-11f0-9051-459b7a9b62e8.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP via Getty Images India's captain Harmanpreet Kaur (C) poses with her family members after winning the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 one-day international (ODI) final match between India and South Africa at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on November 3, 2025. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP via Getty Images)" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP by way of Getty Photos India's captain Harmanpreet Kaur (C) poses with household after successful the World Cup

Amanjot Kaur: Composed below strain

Tempo-bowling all rounder Amanjot Kaur's story begins in her father Bhupinder Singh's carpentry workshop in Punjab. When cricket gear was unaffordable, he made her first bat himself, carved from leftover wooden.

Neighbours questioned why he inspired a woman to play. He continued working. She continued enjoying.

Within the World Cup closing, her affect got here in turning factors. Within the tenth over, with South Africa settling, she ran out the harmful opening batter Tazmin Brits with a clear collect and throw. Later, with opposition captain Laura Wolvaardt previous 100 and the chase nonetheless alive, Kaur steadied herself below a swirling ball at deep midwicket. She juggled it twice and held on. The stadium erupted in cheers with that catch.

The roots of that composure run deep. On her India debut in January 2023 in South Africa, she made an unbeaten 41 enjoying at quantity seven to elevate India from 69 for five. After that match, in a press convention - which I nearly attended with no different journalists current - she spoke quietly about her father's years of sacrifice. She didn't embellish. She acknowledged what had made her cricket doable.

Her catch within the closing can be replayed. The arms that formed her first bat are a part of that second too.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/b79e/live/165fb710-bad4-11f0-9051-459b7a9b62e8.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/b79e/live/165fb710-bad4-11f0-9051-459b7a9b62e8.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/b79e/live/165fb710-bad4-11f0-9051-459b7a9b62e8.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/b79e/live/165fb710-bad4-11f0-9051-459b7a9b62e8.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/b79e/live/165fb710-bad4-11f0-9051-459b7a9b62e8.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/b79e/live/165fb710-bad4-11f0-9051-459b7a9b62e8.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/b79e/live/165fb710-bad4-11f0-9051-459b7a9b62e8.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/b79e/live/165fb710-bad4-11f0-9051-459b7a9b62e8.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images Amanjot Kaur of India poses with the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup trophy after the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup India 2025 Final match between India and South Africa at Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy on November 02, 2025 in Navi Mumbai, India. (Photo by Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC by way of Getty Photos Amanjot Kaur's father, a carpenter, made her first bat himself

Radha Yadav: From pavement stall to podium

Left-arm spin-bowling Radha Yadav's journey is measured in a number of steps alongside one lane in Kandivali, a suburb within the western metropolis of Mumbai. After incomes her first BCCI contract at 19, six years in the past, she purchased her household a small grocery store referred to as the Radha Mini Common Retailer. It stands only some steps from the pavement stall the place her father, Omprakash Yadav, bought milk and greens for years.

The house above the store measured about 225 sq ft (21 sq m). Area was restricted; ambition was not. Her elder sister Sonee, who additionally performed cricket, gave up the game in order that Radha might proceed enjoying. The household backed one dream and stayed with it.

She moved from tennis-ball cricket in slender lanes to the very best stage of the game as a result of she was inspired to not cease.

The morning after India's World Cup win, {a photograph} went viral: Omprakash, smiling broadly, strolling beside head coach Amol Muzumdar through the crew's lap of honour on the stadium, the World Cup trophy held aloft, on his head.

One body held what the years had carried: avenue, retailer, household, perception.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/86b8/live/e54add80-bad3-11f0-9051-459b7a9b62e8.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/86b8/live/e54add80-bad3-11f0-9051-459b7a9b62e8.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/86b8/live/e54add80-bad3-11f0-9051-459b7a9b62e8.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/86b8/live/e54add80-bad3-11f0-9051-459b7a9b62e8.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/86b8/live/e54add80-bad3-11f0-9051-459b7a9b62e8.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/86b8/live/e54add80-bad3-11f0-9051-459b7a9b62e8.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/86b8/live/e54add80-bad3-11f0-9051-459b7a9b62e8.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/86b8/live/e54add80-bad3-11f0-9051-459b7a9b62e8.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Annesha Ghosh Radha Yadav’s family, including her father Omprakash (first from right), outside Radha Mini General Store in Kandivali, that she opened with her earnings

" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Annesha Ghosh Radha Yadav's household, together with her father Omprakash (first from proper), exterior the shop she opened together with her earnings

Renuka Singh Thakur: Quiet management

Quick bowler Renuka Singh Thakur misplaced her father Kehar Singh Thakur in 1999 when she was three years previous. Her mom Sunita took up a authorities job to help the household. Her earnings was modest, however her help in direction of her daughter's desires didn't waver.

Thakur first performed cricket within the lanes of her village and later moved to the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Affiliation's residential academy in Dharamshala - one of many first residential amenities for girls cricketers within the nation.

Distance from dwelling and the calls for of coaching had been troublesome. There have been moments when persevering with felt not sure. Coaches who labored together with her reminded her of the sacrifices her mom had made to make enjoying cricket doable.

That consciousness stored her within the sport.

At this World Cup, she led India's new-ball assault, overcoming a protracted injury-enforced layoff. Within the closing, she bowled eight overs for 28 runs. No launch, no extra, no shift in self-discipline. A efficiency that formed the match with out searching for consideration.