Fourteen years after MS Dhoni’s iconic six sealed India’s 2011 ODI World Cup triumph at Wankhede, Harmanpreet Kaur’s women stand on the brink of replicating that glory in the 2025 final against South Africa. Co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the tournament mirrors 2011 in structure, stakes, and drama—culminating in a high-pressure showdown on home turf. With passionate crowds demanding the nation’s first Women’s World Cup title, the weight of expectation echoes the men’s 28-year drought that ended in 2011.

Both campaigns endured turbulent group stages before igniting in the knockouts. Dhoni’s side stumbled with a loss to South Africa and a tie against England, yet finished second in their group. Harmanpreet’s team scraped into the semis in fourth place after three consecutive defeats to South Africa, Australia, and England—only a must-win clash against New Zealand kept their campaign alive. In both eras, resilience under fire transformed mid-tournament crises into knockout momentum.

The knockout phases have delivered breathtaking symmetry. In 2011, India stunned defending champions Australia in the quarter-final, powered by Yuvraj Singh’s all-round brilliance. In 2025, Harmanpreet’s women achieved an even greater feat—chasing 338 to defeat serial champions Australia in the semi-final, the highest successful pursuit in Women’s World Cup knockout history. Jemimah Rodrigues’ unbeaten 127 and Harmanpreet’s fluent 89 mirrored Yuvraj’s heroics and Dhoni’s composure, proving Indian cricket thrives when backs are against the wall.

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Now, one final hurdle remains. Just as Dhoni conquered Pakistan in an emotionally charged 2011 semi-final before lifting the trophy, Harmanpreet’s team has already dethroned giants. A victory tonight in Navi Mumbai would complete the parallel, crowning a new generation of legends and etching the Women’s Class of 2025 alongside Dhoni’s immortals in Indian cricket folklore.

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