The BRICS TimesHarmanpreet Kaur’s emotional gesture to Amol Muzumdar, touching his feet before a warm embrace, highlighted the coach’s immense role in India’s World Cup victory.
The Long-Awaited Liberation
The clock striking midnight brought not just freedom, but liberation. India Women’s Cricket finally broke free. They ended decades of frustrating close calls and constant heartbreak. The team was always near the finish line, but never quite crossed it. That second-best tag has now vanished forever.
History Scripted at Midnight
Sunday turning into Monday at 00:00 saw history being made. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur took the final catch. India Women became 50-over World Cup winners for the very first time. In front of a massive 45,000-strong crowd at DY Patil Stadium, a new chapter unfolded. This simple catch penned a glorious story for women’s cricket. Importantly, this victory is a beginning, not an end.
The Hard-Fought Triumph
This title was certainly hard-earned. The team suffered three straight losses mid-tournament. They lost winning positions against Australia, South Africa, and England. India’s future in their own tournament looked extremely doubtful. It would have been easy to surrender to bad luck. They could have lost their confidence and belief easily.
Rising Above Defeats
However, Harmanpreet’s girls refused to let losses define them. They used those defeats as strong motivators. First, they thrashed New Zealand in a virtual quarterfinal. Then, they stunned bogey team Australia. This win came through a world-record run chase. Finally, they conquered the brave Laura Woolvardt’s South Africa. South Africa themselves had staged a brilliant comeback after an earlier collapse.
The Unsung Architect
The victory belongs to all 15 players, including Pratika Rawal. The opener missed the knockouts due to ankle and knee injuries. They faced tough challenges and came out swinging with conviction. In this massive effort, they received great support. This came from Indian cricket’s “nearly-man”, the 50-year-old Amol Muzumdar.
A Fitting World Cup Gift
The India Women’s head coach could not ask for a better gift. His 51st birthday was just over a week away. Since taking charge in October 2023, Muzumdar focused solely on this home World Cup. Fourteen years ago, he saw his friends like Sachin Tendulkar lift the trophy in Mumbai. Despite his great domestic record—11,167 first-class runs at an average of 48.13—he never played for India. This World Cup triumph will surely lessen his bitter disappointment.
Building Trust in Difficult Times
Muzumdar took over the team during a very tough phase. The team had seen several coaches in the preceding five years. After the sudden exit of Ramesh Powar in late 2022, the team lacked a full-time coach for ten months. There were rumours of team unrest and a trust deficit. Players were reportedly moving in different directions.
A Coach’s Pedigree and Impact
Muzumdar’s first priority was gaining his players’ trust. He convinced them his goal was their betterment, not personal ambition. He played 20 tough domestic seasons. His resume included an India U-19 vice-captaincy. He was a Ranji Trophy-winning Mumbai captain eight times. He had also made the highest first-class debut score by an Indian. He quickly won his team over with honesty and sincerity. He did not mince words when giving feedback. Harmanpreet later confirmed his tough talk after the loss to England helped rejuvenate the side. The perfect chemistry between captain and coach clearly showed.
