Harmanpreet Kaur has caught many-a brilliant catches in her long illustrious career, none of them were quite as difficult as the one she leapt for at the stroke of midnight in a packed DY Patil Stadium. That ball was carrying the hopes of a billion people watching, yet for Harmanpreet Kaur it was business as usual, she jumped and grabbed the ball with ease, sealing a victory that took India almost five decades.
Now, it has been more than a week since the Team lifted their first World Cup. It’s been a week of celebration and deservedly so. Op-eds and tabloids are aplenty calling this win the wonder that it truly is and a watershed movement it has the potential to become.
The media has compared this to the famous 1983 win that led India to the path of becoming a cricketing giant in the years that followed. Many have even drawn comparisons between individual players: Kapil Dev with Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues with Sunil Gavaskar.
Why the '83 Comparison Sells Women's Cricket Short
It's a flattering comparison, but an unfair one. Both moments deserve their own space in Indian sports history.
In 1983, India were underdogs who had never reached a World Cup knockout stage. The team lacked the polish of Australia, West Indies, or England. The BCCI operated on meagre funds, and cricket was concentrated in a handful of cities — five players came from Mumbai, five from Delhi. Despite these limitations, they pulled off a miracle that triggered the revolution leading to today's IPL and the BCCI's global dominance. Indian Cricket owes a lot to that famous win in England 42 years ago.
The 2025 win captures a different imagination entirely.
Built, Not Born: The Infrastructure That Made Champions
This victory came on the back of years of struggle for Women’s cricket. It started with Diana Edulji captaining India in 1978, when players funded their own travel. Then came the ebb and flow years – Anjum Chopra, Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami forcing national attention on women's cricket. The 2006 BCCI integration provided institutional support; the 2017 World Cup finals brought mainstream visibility; equal match fees in 2022 signaled commitment; and the 2023 Women's Premier League created the commercial engine.
When India entered this tournament, they were favorites alongside Australia and England. Players came from 12 different states — including remote towns in Assam and Madhya Pradesh. They arrived battle-tested from the WPL, Australia's WBBL, and England's Hundred. This wasn't a miracle. It was proof of what improved grassroots infrastructure, domestic cricket, international exposure, increased salaries, and sustained commitment can achieve.
The women's team now stands toe-to-toe with England, New Zealand, and South Africa. Indian players are vital assets in overseas auctions. But to challenge seven-time champion Australia, India must do more than celebrate cricket. It must build a sporting culture that encompasses all disciplines — much like Australia itself.
The Butterfly Effect: What's Next for Indian Women's Sports
With the exception of a few sports like Badminton and now Cricket, the state of women in sports continues to face major structural and social barriers. Field hockey, football, wrestling, basketball, and track and field all struggle with funding, sexism, sexual harassment, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access. The Northeast produces excellent footballers, yet grassroots players face safety issues traveling miles to recognized facilities.
It would be criminal if the lessons from the women's cricket team do not spill over. The BCCI supported Women’s cricket when it had no silverware to display but today the Indian Cricket team is expected to win every tournament. Meanwhile, women's teams in other sports are waiting for their 83esque moment but chances go bleaker as competing nations advance.
The Roadmap: Ways to Make 2025 Count
The road to the ‘25 World Cup Win is not a miracle but a reward for a five year project focused on promoting Women’s cricket from ground-up. It has allowed for more players to showcase their talent.
With the 2028 Olympics in sight, Sporting Authorities in India are trying to build a similar system for various sports. The TOPS is one major scheme focused on India’s performance at the 2028 Olympics. Its goal is to provide un-hindered support to a target group of athletes who are major medal contenders in their respective sports. However, while such schemes are welcomed, they focus on a very small circle of athletes (in the case of TOPS only 42) who have displayed potential.
Organisations like the 100 Medals and Sports and Society Accelerator are focusing on a long-term project of building a grassroots sporting culture that is inclusive, equipped and supportive in bringing more athletes who can take India to a 100 medal tally in the next few Olympics. Their missions align with the blueprint that had led India to their first Women’s World Cup win.
Thus comparing ‘83 and ‘25 seems like comparing apples and oranges. The latter was built through years of support to compete at the highest level and is now a major contender globally.
While ‘83 will always stay close in our hearts, the 2025 win can be a butterfly effect for women's sports. The goal should be to be the next Australia and to build a sporting culture that gets us closer to a 100+ medal tally at LA in 2028. The infrastructure (to an extent) exists. The blueprint is drawn. Now comes the hard part: execution.
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