Legendary Indian spinner R. Ashwin hailed the Women in Blue’s ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 victory as the nation’s greatest cricketing achievement. On Sunday, November 2, at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side made history by defeating South Africa by 52 runs after posting 298 runs, securing India’s maiden Women’s World Cup title.
Speaking on his YouTube channel the following day, November 3, Ashwin lauded the team’s incredible accomplishment, calling it a feat greater and grander than any World Cup triumph India has celebrated before.
“I would put this and rate this as an even bigger and colossal achievement than any other World Cup we have won. Any other World Cup that has been won, this is an even more colossal achievement. Because this has the ability to bring girls out there to practice the game of cricket and take up the sport seriously as a career option.”
“And it is going to change the mindset and conditioning of everybody associated with Indian women and Indian women’s cricket. So it is an even bigger achievement.”
“That time has truly arrived” – R. Ashwin’s big statement on women’s cricketers
During the conversation, Ravichandran Ashwin recalled an incident from 2017–18 when people in Hyderabad barely recognized Mithali Raj. He highlighted how much things have changed since then, emphasizing that the women’s team has now rightfully earned its moment in the limelight. He said:
“Many years ago, Ambati Rayudu was playing. It was around 2017-18 then, a sensation. He was playing a match at the Gymkhana Stadium in Hyderabad. The entire stadium was packed, and everyone was cheering. But Mithali Raj was already an Indian cricketing superstar. She was there on the ground, practicing. Not many people even knew that it was Mithali Raj.”
“So my point here is, this women’s team has brought us to this point. You know those campaigns we’ve seen so many times saying it’s not about the jersey you are wearing? You can wear Deepti, you can wear Smriti. I think that place and that time have truly arrived. It has arrived,” Ashwin added.
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