Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has called India's 2025 Women's World Cup victory the most significant achievement in the country's cricketing history. India won their first title in 13 editions of the 50-over tournament, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final at Navi Mumbai on Sunday, November 2. Ashwin emphasized that this triumph surpasses all previous World Cup wins because it inspires young girls to pursue cricket as a career. He recalled an incident from the 2017-18 season when Mithali Raj, then captain of the women's team, went unrecognized while practicing at Hyderabad Gymkhana Stadium, even as crowds packed the venue to watch Ambati Rayudu. Ashwin believes women's cricket has transformed dramatically since then. He also suggested creating an eight-episode documentary highlighting contributions from the entire squad, including coach Amol Muzumdar and players like Shree Charani.
Ashwin's Perspective on Women's Cricket Growth
Ashwin shared a telling anecdote from the 2017-18 season at Hyderabad Gymkhana Stadium. While crowds filled the venue to watch Ambati Rayudu, nobody recognized Mithali Raj, who was practicing at the same location despite being the women's team captain at the time. This incident highlighted how far women's cricket has progressed. Ashwin stated that the 2025 World Cup win is even more monumental than any previous Indian World Cup triumph because it encourages girls to view cricket as a viable career path. He proposed creating a documentary that celebrates every team member's contribution, not just stars like Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and Harmanpreet Kaur, but also coach Amol Muzumdar and players like Shree Charani, who joined the squad only in June.
Source: Link