The semi-final win against Australia had been an emotional one, AND captain Harmanpreet Kaur couldn't hold back her tears in the dugout. But on the day India finally lifted their first-ever Women's World Cup, those tears were replaced by A radiant smile. The emotion this time was different, not of relief, but of a dream realised, and the word Kaur kept returning to was self-belief.
When asked about the feeling of finally holding a trophy that had long eluded India, Kaur said she was overwhelmed and could barely process the moment. She noted that the team had remained focused on their ultimate goal for a long time, playing consistently good cricket, and that it had finally all come together on the biggest stage.
Kaur's luck with the toss had shown no improvement throughout the tournament, she had managed to win only one out of nine. The trend continued in the final, where she lost the toss yet again. While there was a strong sense of belief within the Indian camp, there were also inevitable nerves, especially as Laura Wolvaardt's century kept South Africa firmly in the chase. It was only after her dismissal in the 42nd over that the momentum finally shifted decisively in India's favour.