This impromptu celebration showed the strong bond in the team. (Videograb)
Tears of joy, pure emotion, and a historic trophy. The Indian Women's team finally achieved its dream. They won their first ICC senior trophy, the ODI World Cup. The celebrations at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai lasted all night. The victory belonged to every player.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur completed the win in style. She took the final overhead catch just after midnight. Her teammates immediately surrounded her. The celebrations started right then. This marked the end of India's long wait for a World Cup title.
Post-match interviews were happening as the trophy presentation got ready. Smriti Mandhana was one of the players giving an interview. She kept her usual cool and calm demeanor. She spoke about the team’s journey to their first World Cup title.
However, her teammates had different plans. They cut her interview short. A large group, led by Renuka Singh Thakur and Harleen Deol, rushed in. They surrounded Mandhana in a wave of joy. They took their star player away to continue the party.
Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet joined the group. They emerged with a massive Indian flag. They wrapped the tricolor around Smriti.
This impromptu celebration showed the strong bond in the team. It also highlighted the importance of Mandhana’s role in the victory. The team won the trophy on home turf.
Renuka lifted Mandhana high in celebration. The emotional opening batter was then swamped by more teammates. They celebrated her crucial contribution to the win.
Mandhana had an exceptional year. She broke many records. She stepped up when the team needed her most. She ended as India's top run-scorer in the tournament with 434 runs. This included a vital century against New Zealand in the league stage. She consistently scored well against tough opponents.
Mandhana's teammates supported her during the knockout stages. Her 45 runs in the final were crucial. She and Shafali Verma set the platform. They made a 104-run opening partnership. Later, Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh pushed the team to a strong total. The final victory was a complete team effort. The joyous, interrupted interview became a symbol of their unity and success.
ALSO READ: Team India Consoles Emotional South Africa Players After World Cup Victory | Watch
