In a moment that blurred the lines between past and present, triumph and tribute, the newly crowned champions of the India’s Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 did something that moved millions to tears: they carried their gleaming trophy straight to Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami—two legends who never got to lift it themselves—and placed it in their hands.
Captured in a now-viral video that’s been hailed as “the most beautiful 90 seconds in Indian cricket history,” captain Harmanpreet Kaur, flanked by Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma, knelt before the veterans during the post-victory ceremony at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium. Mithali, visibly overwhelmed, touched the trophy as if it were sacred. Jhulan covered her face, shoulders shaking with silent sobs .
The Dream They Carried for Two Decades
Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami weren’t just former players—they were the architects of belief in Indian women’s cricket. Mithali, the calm strategist with over 7,000 ODI runs, led India to the 2017 World Cup final, where heartbreak struck in the last over. Jhulan, the fiery fast bowler with 255 international wickets, often bowled with pain in her knees, driven purely by love for the game.
Both retired before 2025, their trophy cabinets full of records—but missing one thing: a World Cup. Now, their spiritual successors had delivered it.
A Passing of the Baton, Not Just a Trophy
“This is yours as much as ours,” Harmanpreet told Mithali in an emotional locker room chat later shared by the BCCI. “You showed us the path when no one believed women could fill stadiums.”
The symbolism was undeniable. Where Mithali and Jhulan fought for basic facilities—sharing kits, traveling in unreserved train coaches—the 2025 squad enjoys world-class support, equal match fees, and national adoration. Yet they never forgot who paved the way.
Legacy in Numbers: Mithali & Jhulan’s Impact
| Player | Career Span | ODI Runs/Wkts | World Cup Appearances |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mithali Raj | 1999–2022 | 7,805 runs | 5 (Runner-up: 2005, 2017) |
| Jhulan Goswami | 2002–2023 | 255 wickets | 5 (Best: Final 2017) |
| 2025 Champions | — | Team Total: 298/7 (Final) | 1st Title |
Why This Moment Resonated Beyond Cricket
This wasn’t just sportsmanship—it was intergenerational gratitude. In a culture that reveres elders, the gesture mirrored traditional values: honoring those who sacrificed so others could soar. Schoolchildren in Hyderabad recreated the scene in assemblies. Artists painted murals of Mithali holding the trophy with Harmanpreet at her side.
The Full Circle of Indian Women’s Cricket
From playing on dusty maidans to filling stadiums; from handwritten letters asking for kits to ₹51 crore rewards—the journey has been long. But on November 2, 2025, when the trophy passed from the hands of pioneers to champions, it felt complete.
Sources
Times of India: “Emotional Scenes as Team India Shares WC Trophy with Mithali & Jhulan”
ICC Archives: Women’s World Cup Finals (2005–2025)
BCCI Tribute Video: “The Legacy That Built a Champion Team”
ESPNcricinfo: “How Mithali & Jhulan Shaped Modern Indian Women’s Cricket”