The Indian women’s cricket team ended decades of anticipation on Sunday night by scripting history — defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final to lift their maiden ICC Women’s World Cup title. The victory not only brought immense pride to the nation but also revived memories of India’s iconic 1983 men’s World Cup triumph under Kapil Dev, when a young and fearless side stunned the cricketing world. However, legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar believes that while both triumphs are historic, they belong to entirely different contexts.

In his column for The Sportstar, Sunil Gavaskar lauded the women’s team for their exceptional game awareness and the guidance of Indian coaches who, he feels, truly understand the country’s cricketing fabric.

“The win once again emphasised, if ever it was needed, that sporting intelligence wins trophies, not fancy degrees from universities. It also proves that Indian coaches get the best results since they know the players — their strengths, weaknesses, and temperament — far better than any foreigner,” Sunil Gavaskar wrote.

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He further explained why the 2025 victory shouldn’t be directly compared with the 1983 men’s achievement. “The men’s team had never gone beyond the group stage before 1983, so the knockout phase was unfamiliar territory. The women, on the other hand, had already reached two finals before this magnificent triumph,” he observed.

While Kapil’s side were underdogs who shocked the mighty West Indies, Harmanpreet Kaur’s women had long established their credentials with appearances in the 2005 and 2017 ODI finals, as well as the 2020 T20 World Cup final. Sunil Gavaskar acknowledged that this win would have a similarly transformative effect on the sport.

“Just as the ’83 win gave Indian cricket a global voice, this victory will shake the dominance of nations that once ruled women’s cricket,” he noted. “It will inspire countless young girls from across India to pick up the bat and ball, knowing that dreams can now become reality.”

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Sunil Gavaskar concluded by emphasising how the Women’s Premier League (WPL) has already opened new doors for aspiring cricketers. “This win will give new wings to women’s cricket, convincing parents to support their daughters’ ambitions just as the 1983 triumph once did for boys,” he added.