Ravichandran Ashwin rates Harmanpreet-led side's Women's World Cup win as 'bigger and colossal achievement than any World Cup India ever won'

Legendary off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin rated Harmanpreet Kaur-led India women's team's World Cup title triumph as a "bigger achievement" than any World Cup win that India had ever won because of the impact it will create in the landscape of the country's women's cricket.

After defeating South Africa in the Women's ODI World Cup win, India now have three ODI World Cup trophies across both men's and women's cricket. The first piece of silverware was brought home by Kapil Dev-led India in 1983. The Men in Blue won their second title under MS Dhoni's captaincy on home soil. Now, the Harmanpreet-led side has lifted the third title at home. India also possesses two T20 World Cup titles (2007, 2024) and as many ICC Champions Trophy titles (2013, 2025).

Ashwin for Harmanpreet-led India's World Cup win

Ashwin, who is India's second-highest wicket-taker, believes India's women's team's story of World Cup success ranks above every single World Cup due to its magnitude. He reckons that this win will inspire the young girls to take up cricket as a serious career option and change the mindset of every single person associated with women's cricket in India.

ALSO READ: ‘For the next seven hours, we cut out...’: Amol Muzumdar’s powerful pep talk to Harmanpreet Kaur-led Team India before Women’s World Cup final goes viral, Watch VIDEO

ALSO READ: 'India wanted it more than us and...': South Africa head coach Hilton Mashimbyi lauds India’s fight after losing the Women's ODI World Cup 2025 final

"I would put this and rate this as an even bigger and colossal achievement than any World Cup we have done and any other World Cup that has been won because this has the ability to bring the 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," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

India vs Australia Women's ODI World Cup 2025 final

After defeating Australia in the semifinal, Harmanpreet Kaur-led India stormed into the final with confidence. Asked to bat first, India scored 298 for 7 in their 50 overs. For South Africa, Ayabonga Khaka was the best bowler, taking three wickets for 58 runs.

While chasing, South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt played a brilliant innings and scored a century, almost turning the game in her team’s favour. However, Deepti Sharma dismissed her and took another wicket in the same over, crushing South Africa’s hopes of winning the title. Deepti became the first Indian woman to take four wickets in a World Cup final and later completed her five-wicket haul, finishing with figures of 5 for 39.