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New Delhi: The celebrations for India's historic Women's World Cup win didn't end with the final whistle at the DY Patil Stadium. Hours after the crowd had dispersed and the light began to dim, the newly crowned champions gathered around the 22-yard strip to share a moment that had been four years in the making as they revealed their secret team anthem.
Led by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and the ever-energetic Jemimah Rodrigues, the players formed a tight huddle at the centre of the ground. And then for the first time, the anthem rang out, “Rahega sab se upar, hamara Tiranga! Hum hai Team India, hum hai Team India!” Their voices echoed across the empty stands - a fitting tribute to a night that will be remembered for generations.
For a country that has often borrowed tunes like Chak De India or Suno Gaur Se Duniya Walo to mark sporting celebrations, this was something different - something homegrown and deeply personal. It wasn’t about stadium anthems or loud music systems. It was about the team, their bond and their journey.
The idea of a team anthem as Jemimah Rodrigues later revealed wasn’t spontaneous. “We decided almost four years ago that we would only reveal our team song when we win the World Cup,” she said in a BCCI video shared after the win. “And tonight is the night.”
As Jemimah began the chant, her teammates joined in with unfiltered joy - coaches, support staff, everyone. Head coach Amol Muzumdar’s voice could be heard leading from the front. “Saath mein chalenge, saath mein uthenge, hum hai Team India, saath mein jeetenge!” they sang, dancing and hugging in the middle of the pitch.
The anthem captured every emotion as they stood for unity, resilience and pride. It wasn’t polished or rehearsed: it was real.
While the celebrations were in full swing, the Indian players didn’t forget to share moments of sportsmanship. Jemimah Rodrigues and Radha Yadav were seen embracing South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp, whose eyes welled up after the defeat. Smriti Mandhana and South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt who were the two standout batters of the tournament also spent several minutes chatting before the presentation.
Meanwhile, Harmanpreet was visibly emotional as she became the first Indian woman to lift a World Cup trophy. She even offered members of the media a chance to hold the trophy - a rare gesture that reflected the depth of her gratitude.
Adding to the jubilation, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia announced a ₹51 crore reward for the players and support staff, calling the triumph “a monumental achievement that will take Indian women’s cricket to a new level.”
India's win makes them the fourth team ever to lift the Women's World Cup, joining Australia, England and New Zealand.
