Mithali Raj pens down heartfelt message for BCCI and Jay Shah after India's ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 triumph

Mithali Raj had captained India in two ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup finals.

Mithali Raj, India‘s finest female cricketer, was twice agonizingly close to winning the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 before succumbing to tragedy. She took the team to the final in 2005 at Centurion and again in 2017 at Lord’s, only to lose heartbreakingly both times.  

However, India’s historic victory on November 2 (Sunday) tasted just as sweet for Mithali because she was not only present at the stadium as a broadcaster, but she also saw one of her proteges, Harmanpreet Kaur, lead the team over the line, assisting Indian women’s cricket achieve its single greatest moment in history.

India defeated South Africa in the final that was played in Navi Mumbai on November 2. Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and decided to bowl. Shafali Verma’s blazing 87 off 78 balls, combined with Smriti Mandhana’s 45, gave India a solid start. Deepti Sharma’s composed 58 and Richa Ghosh’s quick 34 propelled India to 298/7 in 50 overs.

Chasing 299, Wolvaardt led from the front with a fluent 101 off 98 balls, but lacked support as others failed to convert starts. Deepti Sharma also performed admirably with the ball, taking 5/39 to dismiss South Africa for 246 and ensure India’s 52-run victory.

“The girls were brilliant,”- Mithali Raj thanks Jay Shah and BCCI for encouraging women’s cricket in India

While lavishing praise on the players, Mithali thanked the the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and then-secretary Jay Shah (now ICC Chair) for facilitating this historic success by establishing a system to promote women’s cricket in the country.

“What happened last night is a testament to the fact that when you give wings to a dream, dreams do come true. The girls were brilliant, but one must acknowledge the support behind this watershed moment, four years of planning and belief.

When @JayShah Sir was the BCCI Secretary, the @BCCI introduced initiatives that changed the course of women’s cricket, from equal match fees and the Women’s Premier League to a stronger domestic structure, India A tours, and a thriving U19 pathway.

Now, the @ICC continues to shape the women’s game, with the World Cup being hosted at home and the prize pool raised to 13.88 million dollars, a fourfold increase that shows how far the game has come.

For every person standing behind a young girl who dares to dream of wearing India’s colours, this is a pivotal moment, a reminder that dreams do come true when those dreams get the support they truly deserve,” Mithali Raj posted on X.

Deepti Sharma won the Player of the Tournament for her 215 runs and 22 wickets, while Shafali Verma, who replaced injured Pratika Rawal in the Indian squad, won the Player of the Final, for her 87 and two wickets.

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