 "Sunil Gavaskar says don't compare Women's World Cup win to 1983: 'There were some who...'")
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has lauded the Indian women’s cricket team for their historic ODI World Cup triumph but said that comparing the victory to India’s 1983 men’s World Cup win would not be fair. Gavaskar shared his thoughts in his latest column, where he also praised the team’s tactical brilliance and the role of Indian coaches in the success.
“The win once again emphasised, if ever it was needed, that sporting intelligence wins trophies, not fancy degrees from universities. It also proves that it will invariably be Indian coaches who get the best results since they know the players – their strengths, weaknesses, and temperament – and understand the nuances of Indian cricket better than any foreigner, however accomplished he or she may be,” Gavaskar wrote in The Sportstar.
Amol Muzumdar, the domestic cricket legend who represented Mumbai, was the head coach of the Indian women’s team that lifted the World Cup. Despite some early setbacks in the tournament, Muzumdar backed his players and encouraged them to play fearless cricket. India stunned Australia in the semifinal to qualify for the summit clash before defeating South Africa in the final.
Gavaskar says both wins are different
Speaking about the comparisons being made between the women’s team’s 2025 World Cup victory and the men’s maiden triumph in 1983, Gavaskar said that while both wins were historic, the circumstances were very different. Gavaskar highlighted how the Indian team led by Kapil Dev was playing their first-ever knockout game, while the women’s team had already reached two World Cup finals before 2025.
“There were some who tried to compare this win with the men’s team winning the World Cup in 1983. The men had never progressed beyond the group stage in earlier editions, and so everything from the knockout stage onward was new to them, while the women already had a better record, having been in two finals before this magnificent triumph,” he said.
The Indian women’s team lifted their first-ever ODI World Cup trophy on November 2 in Navi Mumbai, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final. The victory ended India’s long wait for a women’s ICC title. Congratulatory messages poured in for the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side from all over the world, while cash prizes and rewards have been announced by the BCCI, state associations, and state governments.
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