'Not on the same level with 1983': Sunil Gavaskar's bold take on India women's World Cup win

The Indian women’s cricket team finally had their fairytale moment when they beat South Africa by 52 runs in the final to lift the Women’s World Cup for the first time. After falling short twice in 2005 and 2017, Harmanpreet Kaur and her team rewrote history, ending years of heartbreak and bringing home the biggest prize in the game.

The win sparked memories of India’s famous 1983 men’s World Cup victory under Kapil Dev, when a young team stunned the mighty West Indies. Many drew parallels between the two triumphs, but legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar believes the achievements, though both iconic, should not be seen on the same scale.


Writing in his column for The Sportstar, Gavaskar said, “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 went on to explain why he does not see the 2025 victory as identical to the men’s triumph in 1983. “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.”

His point carried weight. While the 1983 team was a complete underdog, the Indian women had already shown their potential in global tournaments, reaching the ODI finals in 2005 and 2017 and the T20 World Cup final in 2020. Yet, Gavaskar acknowledged that Harmanpreet’s team had achieved something monumental.

“Just as the '83 win galvanised Indian cricket and gave it a voice that was heard around the world, this victory will make the countries that started women’s cricket long before India did realise that their era of domination has been shaken. The ’83 win also encouraged parents of aspiring cricketers to let their children take up the game,” he added.

Gavaskar further highlighted how this victory could change the landscape for women’s cricket in India. “Similarly, this win will give new wings to women’s cricket, bringing more girls into the game from the remotest parts of India. The WPL has already begun that process, as parents now see the sport as a genuine career option for their daughters and are more willing to support them.”

While the men’s 1983 win created a cricketing revolution, Gavaskar believes Harmanpreet Kaur’s World Cup-winning side has lit a similar spark for women’s cricket in India, one that could inspire the next generation of young girls to pick up the bat and ball.