Harmanpreet and Smriti's tricolour-wrapped celebration goes viral: 'Backbone of the team'

The photo now stands as a defining image of India’s historic triumph and a tribute to two leaders, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana who carried the weight of expectation and delivered glory.

A photo of India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, wrapped in the tricolour and celebrating the country’s first-ever ICC Women’s World Cup win, has taken social media by storm.

The image, captured moments after India’s 52-run victory over South Africa in Navi Mumbai, is being hailed as a symbol of resilience and redemption. Fans and commentators flooded platforms with tributes to the duo, who have been the backbone of Indian women’s cricket for nearly a decade.

Sports portal The Bridge (@the_bridge_in) wrote: “If anyone deserved it, it’s these two. Been the backbone of the team for almost a decade. Now, their names are etched in the history books!”

If anyone deserved it, it's these two Been the backbone of the team for almost a decade. Now, their names are etched in the history books! Thank you Harman, thank you Smriti#INDvSA#CricketTwitter#CWC25#ICCWomensWorldCup2025pic.twitter.com/tsocCSckIY

— The Bridge (@the_bridge_in) November 2, 2025

RVCJ Sports (@RVCJ_Sports) added: “Power, passion, and pride in one frame! Harman & Smriti — the unstoppable duo inspiring millions, just like Ro-Ko! Queens of Indian cricket!”

Journalist Annesha Ghosh (@ghosh_annesha) reflected on the journey: “Scraped. Luck smiled. And a result few thought was possible became a reality… This one’s for Jemi, Harman, Smriti, Deepti and the pioneers of women’s cricket in India.”

Specially happy for these two. I’ve been defending them since that 2017 final in every group chat, in every space, in every debate. All those arguments where I fought against people who called Smriti a choker and Harman a one inning merchant finally comes to end today i guess. pic.twitter.com/HVIM3VNxuM — Tanishq (@boom_raaah) November 2, 2025

Several social media users called it an "iconic photo" and set it alongside another iconic picture of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma posing with the Indian flag after India’s historic T20 World Cup win at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados in 2024.

Harman and Smriti have recreated this ICONIC moment. pic.twitter.com/Rv5RWJOi6Y

— Aditya Saha (@Adityakrsaha) November 2, 2025

Two Iconic pictures after T20 World Cup & Women's World Cup win. VIRAT x ROHIT x HARMAN x SMRITI. pic.twitter.com/32ggINQrTr — MANU. (@IMManu_18) November 3, 2025

The viral moment comes after a turbulent campaign where India faced consecutive defeats and public criticism following a near-miss against England. Harmanpreet revealed that the heartbreak united the team: “That night changed a lot of things for us. We thought we will have to come out with a stronger mindset and everyone came together even more.”

For Harmanpreet and Mandhana, the win broke a long-standing jinx of missed opportunities at home. “We decided we will not leave it. We spoke that we are at home and our World Cup begins now,” the skipper said.

The photo now stands as a defining image of India’s historic triumph — and a tribute to two leaders who carried the weight of expectation and delivered glory.