At the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, Deepti Sharma stood at the centre of a story that will be told for generations. As the fireworks burst into the midnight sky, she smiled, eyes glistening, the smile of someone who had lived her dream and helped an entire nation live theirs.
Honestly, this feels like a dream because we have not been able to come out of that emotion. Feeling really nice, I could contribute this way in a World Cup final. It was not just India’s victory. It was her vindication and every girl’s who had once picked up a bat in a dusty lane and dreamed of a day like this.
The All-Round Wonder
In a campaign that will forever be remembered in Indian cricketing folklore, Deepti was everywhere, with the bat, with the ball, and in the hearts of her teammates.
She scored 215 runs, including three half-centuries, and topped the bowling charts with 22 wickets, finishing as the tournament’s undisputed Most Valuable Player.
And on the night that mattered most, she rose to the occasion once again scoring a fighting 58 to pull India out of trouble, before weaving magic with the ball to return figures of 5 for 39. It was an all-round masterclass reminiscent of Yuvraj Singh’s 2011 World Cup heroics, but this time, it belonged to India’s daughters.
I always enjoy whichever department I am in, or whichever situation I am in. I wanted to play according to the situation. As a stage, to perform as an all-rounder, it cannot be a more amazing feeling.
Grace Under Pressure
When South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt began scripting her own heroic hundred, India’s nerves could have cracked. But Deepti’s calm presence became the team’s anchor.
Laura played a very good innings. But we were always calm and cheering each other up. As a bowling unit, we talked about going to the last ball, focusing on our best balls and that’s what we did.
Even as Wolvaardt’s strokes pierced the field, Deepti’s unwavering belief held India together. Her breakthroughs were clever, calculated, composed and it turned the tide once more.
A Trophy for Home
When her name was called for the Player of the Series award, Deepti’s first instinct was not self-congratulation but gratitude. She lifted the gleaming trophy with both hands, her eyes scanning the stands as if searching for someone.
I just wanted to dedicate this trophy to my mom and dad. For a girl from Saharanpur who once travelled miles with her father to train, the journey had come full circle.
A Beacon for What Comes Next
Asked what she wanted to change in women’s cricket, Deepti’s answer carried both pride and hope.
There has been a lot of change since 2017. I hope there are even more matches now for us.
For India’s women, this was more than just a title. It was a promise fulfilled that they too could dream, fight, and win on the biggest stage.
A New Chapter Begins
Deepti Sharma’s night of brilliance will echo far beyond Navi Mumbai. It will echo in the gully games of little girls, in the dreams of mothers watching their daughters grip a cricket bat, and in the history books that will now have a golden page reserved for this team.
India’s women didn’t just win a World Cup. They won back a dream for a billion hearts.
