The final of the 2017 Women’s ODI World Cup may be eight years behind us, but for Indian fans, it remains painfully vivid. That night at Lord’s, India was within grasp of a historic title. Just days earlier, Harmanpreet Kaur had produced one of the most explosive innings in World Cup history, an unbeaten 171 against Australia in the semi-final that electrified the sport. But in the final, dreams came undone in a mere nine-run heartbreak against England. 

India’s women’s team have had their share of achievements. Four-time ODI Asia Cup champions (2004, 2005–06, 2006, 2008), they’ve pulled off stunning victories against some of the biggest names in world cricket. Kaur’s whirlwind knock in 2017 wasn’t just a match-winner, it was a message to every sceptic. And yet, the ultimate accolade, the ICC World Cup, remains painfully out of reach.

The 2025 edition now holds immense significance as a potential turning point. A World Cup win for India would be more than a trophy; it would be a cultural reset. It would silence those who still believe cricket is a ‘man's game’, that rewrites Indian cricket history from a woman’s perspective.