At Last, a Long-Lost Dream Returns Home

by Prisha Verma

One of my earliest memories of following the World Cup goes back to 2017. I can still see myself glued to the screen, heart racing, watching every over. I remember how tense, exciting, and hopeful that final was and in the end how heartbreaking it was. It wasn't just a game it felt like I was there with the team every second cheering for them, rooting for them. Those feelings stayed with me even long after the trophy was gone. 

After all, I was just a girl in 7th grade, slowly discovering what cricket meant to me. I was just beginning to develop an interest in the sport, learning the basics, figuring out the rules, trying to understand why every Indian household lost its mind over a match. I didn’t even realise it then but that was the start of my own little cricketing journey.

Watching the women reach the final in 2017 did something to me. It didn’t feel like I was watching strangers, it felt like I was watching possibilities. Their fight, their passion, their near-win, it inspired me in a way nothing else had. It made me want to play better, train harder, maybe even dream a little bigger. For the first time, I thought, maybe someday I could play for India too. I mean if they could, why couldn’t I? Not for applause, not for validation, not to prove anything to anyone but simply for the love of the game and the pride of doing something for myself. That’s the kind of impact a match and a team can have on a young girl who’s just beginning to mark her feet in the world.

It was hard to believe that our girls won the World Cup in 2025. It seemed like the universe was finally closing a loop. The journey has been nothing short of extraordinary and the resilience that the entire team has shown is really commendable, from the heartbreak of 2017 to the victory of 2025. I’m genuinely so proud of these women, not just for winning, but for growing, fighting, and elevating the game to a place many didn’t believe it could reach. It truly feels like a long-lost dream finally returning home.

What’s even more beautiful is how women’s cricket has evolved in these eight years. And honestly, the irony is wild. Cricket is practically a religion in India we celebrate, worship, and obsess over it yet for decades, women’s cricket barely got the respect it deserved. It was always there, quietly thriving, waiting to be seen. But slowly, the shift began. The Women’s Premier League brought in visibility, competitive spirit, international talent, and a new level of excitement. Suddenly, young girls had heroes on billboards, not just in YouTube highlights.

Even small steps like cheaper tickets to fill the stands created a ripple effect. More spectators mean more hype, more hype means more coverage, and more coverage means more kids wanting to be part of the game. The momentum didn’t come overnight; it was built slowly, with every boundary, every breakthrough, every moment that demanded attention.

But the part that fills me with the most joy? It’s imagining what this win means for today’s generation of kids. Just picture it: little girls in school uniforms saying, “I started playing cricket because I watched Jemimah Rodrigues smash that century,” or “Because I saw Harmanpreet Kaur take that impossible catch.” These moments become origin stories, the spark that lights a dream.

For us 2000s kids, that spark was watching MS Dhoni hit that final six in 2011. It was India lifting the World Cup after 28 years. That memory lives rent-free in our minds even today. And now? This 2025 win is that moment for millions of children. A core memory being formed in real time.

And the beauty of it is that the impact doesn’t stop at stadiums or TV screens. It trickles down into everyday life, kids picking up a bat in their neighbourhood park, school tournaments gaining more attention, parents actually encouraging their daughters to join academies and we can encourage this generation of girls to play sports. The win becomes more than a celebration; it becomes a reason. A reason to dream, to play, to choose cricket not just as a sport, but as a possibility.

The women’s team winning the World Cup for the first time in history isn’t just a victory; it’s a shift in culture. It’s a statement that talent, passion, and determination aren’t defined by gender. It’s a reminder that visibility matters because you cannot dream what you cannot see.

This win will be an engraved memory for this generation, shaping mindsets, ambitions, and the future of the sport in India. And honestly? It makes me emotional in the best way possible. Because if this is the beginning, imagine how powerful the journey ahead is going to be.

Here’s to the champions. Here’s to the little girls who will grow up inspired. And here’s to a dream that finally, beautifully, came true, AT LAST!!!