- When Belief Became Titles
- From Contenders to Champions — India Women’s Cricket Has Truly Arrived
In the grand tapestry of Indian cricket history, some moments don’t merely shimmer — they redefine an era. The rise of the Indian women’s cricket team under Harmanpreet Kaur’s captaincy is precisely one such chapter. What we are witnessing is not a passing phase of success, but a structural transformation — from perennial contenders to champions who now command global respect.
The crowning jewel of this journey arrived in 2025, when India clinched their first ICC Women’s ODI World Cup title. This was no accident, no one-off surge of fortune. It was the culmination of years of preparation, belief carefully nurtured, sacrifices silently made, and a collective conviction that Indian women could do more than compete — they could dominate.
Under legends like Mithali Raj, India had come agonisingly close before — runners-up in 2005 and 2017. Those were knocks on the door. What Harmanpreet Kaur’s side did in 2025 was walk through it, lift the trophy, and change the psychological ceiling forever.
Confidence breeds consistency, and champions learn to repeat success. Riding the World Cup high, India followed it up with back-to-back home series victories against South Africa and Sri Lanka. These were not routine wins. They reflected a side playing with authority, balance, and controlled aggression — a team that knew how to finish games, not just fight them.
At the heart of this transformation stands Harmanpreet Kaur the leader — bold, instinctive, and fearless. Her captaincy has been defined not just by tactical clarity but by an unshakeable belief in her players. As a batter, she remains brutally effective; as a leader, she has redefined Indian women’s cricket culture. The numbers underline her impact: Harmanpreet has surpassed Meg Lanning to become the most successful captain in Women’s T20 Internationals, a staggering achievement reflecting both longevity and elite consistency.
But this team is not built around one star. It thrives on a constellation of brilliance.
Smriti Mandhana, when she is at the wicket, is poetry in motion — like a feather floating in the air. There is effortlessness in her strokeplay that deceives bowlers and entrances spectators. In 2025, she became the fastest Indian woman to reach 10,000 international runs, a milestone that speaks volumes of her class, discipline, and hunger.
Harmanpreet, the batter, meanwhile, offers a different spectacle altogether. At her best, all you often see is the full extension of her arms, driving and cutting bowlers with disdain. It is power shaped by timing, authority delivered with elegance — the hallmark of a batter who knows her worth.
Then comes Richa Ghosh, whose batting is an experience worth travelling miles to watch. Her focus at the crease is intense, almost consuming. In pressure moments, when games teeter, Richa’s clarity of mind and clean striking have repeatedly tilted contests India’s way.
And in Deepti Sharma, India possesses a cricketer of rare cricketing intellect. She is very much in the mould of E.A.S. Prasanna — subtle, calculating, and devastatingly effective. Her ability to bowl full-length deliveries at crucial moments, extracting just enough drift and dip, has broken partnerships and sealed victories. Add her batting utility, and you have the modern all-rounder every championship side craves.
The rise of this team has also been powered by institutional backing. The Women’s Premier League (WPL) has been transformative — providing exposure, financial security, and competitive depth. Harmanpreet’s leadership of the Mumbai Indians, winning two WPL titles, has further elevated her stature as a franchise and international leader. For this rapid professionalisation, the role of BCCI Secretary Jay Shah deserves acknowledgment — women’s cricket finally found sustained administrative intent.
Yet, none of this exists in isolation. The foundations were laid by pioneers like Shantha Rangaswamy and Diana Edulji, strengthened by icons like Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami. One must also remember Punima Rau, who captained India in the late 1990s and early 2000s and later returned as coach during Mithali’s tenure — a bridge between generations whose contribution often goes understated. Harmanpreet did not inherit this legacy — she elevated it, proving that global silverware was not aspirational, but inevitable.
Depth now defines India. Jemimah Rodrigues brings flair and fearlessness; youngsters like Arundhati Reddy and Shree Charani add pace, balance, and future promise. This is no longer a team dependent on a handful of players — it is a system producing match-winners.
The next examination awaits. In early 2026, India will tour Australia for an all-format series — three T20Is, three ODIs, and a one-off Test. Australia remains the ultimate benchmark, especially at home. But if recent history is any indication, India will not arrive as challenger seeking validation. They will arrive as champions aiming for conquest.
This is not merely a golden run. It is the arrival of an era. Under Harmanpreet Kaur, Indian women’s cricket has rewritten its identity — confident, assertive, and unapologetically elite. As the world watches, one thing is certain: India is no longer waiting for its moment.
It owns it. (The author is a former Hyderabad Ranji Player)
