Harmanpreet Kaur touches Amol Muzumdar's feet, head coach hugs her. Viral moment

Muzumdar, who took charge of the national team in 2023, praised his squad’s resilience and unity throughout the tournament.

“We never let early setbacks define us,” he said. “We dominated most matches but just needed to finish better. Once we did that, there was no looking back.”

India’s success was built on a complete team effort, led by 21-year-old Shafali Verma, whose all-round brilliance — a fluent 87 runs with the bat and two crucial wickets — set the stage for the night.

“One word for Shafali — magical,” Muzumdar said with a smile. “Semi-final, final, packed stadium, all the pressure — she turns up every time. Runs, wickets, catches — she did everything. I couldn’t be prouder.”

Deepti Sharma’s five-wicket haul (5-39) and Sree Charani’s composed spell at the end sealed the deal as India bowled out South Africa for 246, defending their total of 298 to secure a historic victory.

Muzumdar credited India’s renewed focus on fitness and fielding, a key part of his vision as coach.

“That was something we talked about a lot in the dressing room,” he said. “The energy in the field today showed how much they’ve grown. I couldn’t have asked for more.”

For Muzumdar, long regarded as one of Indian cricket’s most talented players never to play at the highest level, the win held deep personal significance.

“It’s a watershed moment,” he said softly. “The ripple effects will be felt for generations.”

(With inputs from Agencies)