India’s historic triumph at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup has opened a new chapter in the sport, built on belief, resilience, and an unshakeable team-first mindset. Head coach Amol Muzumdar, speaking on JioStar’s ‘Celebrating Champions’, offered a detailed and heartfelt reflection on the journey that shaped this landmark achievement, the pioneering figures who laid the foundation, and the transformational role of the Women’s Premier League in elevating India’s depth and competitiveness.
Muzumdar began by acknowledging the emotional weight of the victory, emphasising how deeply the players value the legacy of Indian women’s cricket. He said he was particularly moved watching Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and the rest of the squad take the trophy around the boundary to honour the seniors who built the sport brick by brick.
“We must respect our history to secure our future,” he said, crediting icons like Jhulan Goswami, Mithali Raj, Anjum Chopra, Reema Malhotra and many others who sustained women’s cricket during challenging times.
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The head coach also highlighted the BCCI’s role in revolutionising the women’s cricket ecosystem. According to Muzumdar, the last three years have been “phenomenal”, with the introduction of the WPL, increased pathways for talent, and the landmark pay-parity decision in 2022. These changes, he said, have significantly expanded India’s talent pool and created a culture of high performance that was instrumental in the World Cup win.
Muzumdar further revealed the turning point of India’s campaign: an honest team meeting after three straight group-stage defeats. “We needed a blunt, barrier-free conversation,” he said. Despite the losses to Australia, South Africa, and England, the team believed internally that they were playing good cricket but failing to close out matches. That self-awareness, he believes, sparked their resurgence.
He also shared how crucial mental discipline was during the final stretch of the tournament. After the emotional high of defeating Australia in the semi-final, Muzumdar urged the squad to stay grounded. “Our goal wasn’t just to win the semi-final, but to win the World Cup on November 2. If we had stayed in that euphoria, we wouldn’t have achieved what we did.”
The WPL, he emphasised, has radically accelerated player development. Rising stars like Shree Charani and Kranti Goud were identified during the WPL and fast-tracked into the national side by May, showcasing just how quickly the league is shaping India’s next generation.
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Reflecting on his own journey, Muzumdar said visiting the NCA in 2023 and meeting the team for the first time set the tone for everything that followed. With strategic changes in staff, structure, and mindset, India built a project aimed at becoming the world’s best. “This World Cup victory is magical,” he said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better group of players and human beings.”
