The Indian women's cricket team arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday evening to a rapturous hero's welcome, capping off their triumphant return from the historic 50-over World Cup victory in Navi Mumbai. Under Captain Harmanpreet Kaur's inspiring leadership, the side clinched India's first-ever global women's cricket title with a commanding 52-run defeat of South Africa in the final on Sunday, a milestone that has ignited nationwide celebrations and underscored the sport's growing prominence for women in the country.
On Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted the champions at his official residence for a special felicitation ceremony, honouring their extraordinary achievement and its role in elevating Indian sports on the global stage. The event, attended by key team members and support staff, featured warm interactions and tributes that highlighted the government's commitment to nurturing women's athletics amid the sport's rapid evolution since the BCCI's full-time professional league in 2018.
Notably absent was star opener Shafali Verma, who had already departed for Nagaland to captain the North Zone in the Inter-Zonal T20 tournament, a scheduling conflict that prevented her participation but did not diminish acknowledgements of her pivotal contributions, including explosive starts that anchored India's batting line-up. Teammates and officials extended public well-wishes, reflecting the squad's unity forged through years of grassroots development and high-pressure campaigns.
As the ceremony concluded around 6:30 PM IST, images captured the team bus departing from the Prime Minister's residence, signalling the end of the capital's festivities and the beginning of individual homecomings for most players. The 16-member World Cup-winning squad—comprising Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Renuka Singh Thakur, Sneh Rana, Harleen Deol, Arundhati Reddy, and Uma Chetry—has been lauded for blending youth and experience, with standouts like Mandhana's elegant strokeplay and Deepti's all-round prowess proving decisive. This victory not only ends a 28-year ICC trophy drought for Indian women but also boosts morale ahead of future events, including the 2026 T20 World Cup, while inspiring a surge in female participation across rural and urban India.
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The felicitation caps a transformative week that has reshaped perceptions of women's cricket, from packed stadiums in Navi Mumbai to viral social media moments of the team's exuberance. As players disperse to their hometowns—except Verma, committed to domestic duties—the legacy of this win extends beyond the boundary, fuelling investments in infrastructure and coaching pipelines. Modi's personal engagement, including potential interactions shared via official channels, amplifies the narrative of national pride, positioning the team as ambassadors for gender equity in sports. With echoes of the parade-like send-off in Mumbai still fresh, this chapter closes on a high note, setting the stage for sustained excellence and broader societal impact in India's cricketing landscape.
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