Gavaskar says women’s team had greater pedigree before victory, unlike men in 1983.
MUMBAI
Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar hailed India’s 2025 Women’s World Cup triumph as a watershed moment in the nation’s cricketing history, suggesting that it could even surpass the impact of the men’s iconic 1983 World Cup victory. Gavaskar noted that the women’s success reflects India’s growing dominance and maturity in global cricket.
“There were some who tried to compare this win with the men’s team winning the World Cup in 1983,” Gavaskar wrote. “The men had never progressed beyond the group stage in earlier editions, so everything from the knockout stage onward was new to them. The women already had a better record, having been in two finals before this magnificent triumph.”
Gavaskar added that just as the 1983 win transformed Indian cricket and gave it global recognition, the women’s victory will shake long-established powers that have dominated women’s cricket for decades. “This victory will make countries that started women’s cricket long before India did realise that their era of domination has been shaken,” he said.
During Sunday’s dramatic final in Navi Mumbai, India scored 298/7, led by Shafali Verma’s blazing 87 off 78 balls and Deepti Sharma’s 58 off 58. South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt fought back with a gritty century, but India’s spin attack sealed the win, handing the hosts their first-ever Women’s World Cup title.
Emotional celebrations followed as the team took a victory lap joined by veterans Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami. Among the spectators was India men’s captain Rohit Sharma, who was visibly moved by the moment. Gavaskar concluded that the triumph will inspire a new generation of women cricketers, much like the men’s 1983 victory did four decades ago.
