Women willed, India won: World Cup’s Bella Ciao moment

For decades, cricket in India had one face: men in blue. But somewhere, in the dusty gullies and quiet corners of small towns, young girls were learning to dream differently. With taped-up tennis balls, worn-out bats, and hearts full of fire, they began a journey that would one day shake the soul of a billion people.

It was the early 1970s when a handful of women, led by Mahendra Kumar Sharma and later Diana Edulji, dared to dream of forming a national team. There was no Board of Control for Women’s Cricket then, no funding, no proper facilities. Players stitched their own uniforms, travelled in unreserved train compartments, and often used borrowed equipment.

Cut to 2025. A year written in gold. Under the fearless leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur, with young stars like Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Richa Ghosh, India finally lifted the Women’s Cricket World Cup. Every boundary struck that night was a cry of liberation; every wicket taken was a century of silence being shattered.