Why India’s first Women’s World Cup victory meant more to Mithali Raj than anyone else

Mithali, along with former teammate Jhulan Goswami—both pioneers of Indian women’s cricket—joined the victorious squad, touched the trophy and celebrated emotionally on the historic night earlier this year.

Speaking at the ICC Centenary Session in Kolkata on Thursday, Mithali revealed she was initially hesitant to join the team huddle but eventually gave in to the players’ insistence.

“I can only say that when I held the trophy and thanked all the girls who were around me for getting me into that huddle. Initially, I was hesitant because it was their moment, but a few of them persisted that I join them. It felt like a heavy burden was lifted off my chest—one that had existed for so many years,” Mithali said.

Reflecting on the long wait for the elusive title, she added: “People were very encouraging towards women’s cricket as the years progressed, but we were often questioned about not winning the World Cup. Now, we can finally say we have won the ODI World Cup.”

Mithali Raj at ICC event in Kolkata. Photo: PR Team

Mithali Raj endured the heartbreak of two World Cup final defeats during her illustrious career. She was part of the Indian team that finished runners-up in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cups of 2005 and 2017.

India made its maiden World Cup final appearance in 2005 under Mithali’s leadership but went down to a dominant Australia in the title clash in South Africa. Despite the loss, the campaign marked a historic breakthrough for Indian women’s cricket on the global stage.

Twelve years later, Mithali once again led India into the final of the 2017 Women’s World Cup at Lord’s, raising hopes of a maiden title. However, India fell short against England in a closely contested final, settling for second place yet again.

Though the trophy eluded her, Mithali’s role in guiding India to two World Cup finals remains one of the defining achievements of her career and a cornerstone in the growth of women’s cricket in the country.

Speaking about leading “four generations” during her multiple captaincy stints, Mithali said she was most comfortable captaining her contemporaries, while adapting to the youngest generation proved the most challenging.

“My best time was leading my contemporaries because they didn’t view me as a star but as a teammate and a friend. There was a comfort level where I could crack jokes, and they still respected me as the captain who called the shots on the field,” she said.

She added: “I also led junior players who were not even born when I made my debut. I struggled more with that generation because we were in very different phases. I had to set aside my experience and understand what worked for them.”

The cricket legend said mastering the art of adaptation was key to working across generations, as each group required a distinct leadership approach “because times change”.