“Proud to be a Woman Cricketer”: Diana Edulji Celebrates India’s Historic World Cup Win
Former India captain Diana Edulji hails the women’s team’s maiden World Cup triumph as a defining “1983 moment”.
India's women's cricket team etched their names in history by clinching their maiden ICC Women's World Cup title with a commanding 52-run victory over first-time finalists South Africa on Sunday night at the DY Patil Stadium. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side, playing in front of a raucous home crowd of over 40,000, finally shattered a 50-year drought for the senior team, delivering a performance that former captain Diana Edulji hailed as "the 1983 moment" for women's cricket in India—drawing parallels to Kapil Dev's iconic triumph that ignited the men's game.
Edulji, a pioneering figure who captained India in the 1970s and 1980s and later served on the BCCI's Committee of Administrators, expressed overwhelming pride in the achievement. "Today is a red-letter day. I'm very happy and a proud woman cricketer. All the hard work of the last 50 years has borne fruit," she said, emphasising the team's hunger to cross the finish line after near-misses, including the 2017 final loss to England by just nine runs. She praised standout contributions from young stars like Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh, who also lifted the U-19 World Cup, marking a generational shift in Indian women's cricket.
The final showcased India's dominance, with disciplined bowling and explosive batting restricting South Africa in their chase. Player of the Tournament Deepti Sharma embodied redemption, overcoming past setbacks to star with bat and ball. Edulji lauded the electric atmosphere, noting the crowd's unwavering support as the perfect backdrop for this triumph on home soil—a fitting reward after years of building the women's game amid challenges, including resistance from former BCCI officials.
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This victory not only crowns India as world champions but also signals a new era for women's cricket, boosting visibility, funding, and participation across the country. As Edulji reflected on the journey from her playing days to this pinnacle, she congratulated the team for playing "like true champions". The win resonates beyond the trophy, inspiring future generations and cementing Harmanpreet Kaur's squad as legends in a sport long overdue for its spotlight.
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