Standing proudly before the Gateway of India, Harmanpreet Kaur posed with the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup trophy, a sight that instantly brought back memories of MS Dhoni’s famous photo with the men’s World Cup 14 years ago. The image symbolised not just victory but the arrival of women’s cricket as a force equal in pride and passion to the men’s game.
For the first time in history, both India’s men and women teams have lifted the World Cups on the home soil. MS Dhoni’s men had ended a 28-year wait in 2011 with a thrilling win over Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium, while Harmanpreet Kaur’s team brought home their maiden title after 47 years, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a packed DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
Interestingly, both the captains share the jersey number 7, a small but symbolic link between two eras of Indian cricket. While MS Dhoni’s post-win photo featured his famous bald look, Harmanpreet Kaur chose to keep things simple, letting the shining trophy and the moment’s emotion speak for themselves.
https://x.com/BCCIWomen/status/1985332258136555592
The parallels between the two campaigns are uncanny. Both the tournaments were hosted at home and co-organised with Sri Lanka. Both the sides faced immense pressure to perform before passionate home crowds. The men team announced their dominance by beating defending champions Australia in a high-stakes quarter-final in 2011, the women team did the same by toppling Alyssa Healy’s Australia with a record chase in the 2025 semi-final.
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin reflected on Harmanpreet Kaur’s journey, noting that her triumph was built on years of heartbreak and perseverance. He recalled how she had experienced bitter defeats in past tournaments, including the 2017 World Cup final, but never gave up. Ashwin likened her contribution to that of Kapil Dev and Dhoni, saying that the seeds she has sown through this victory will inspire generations to come, just as the 2011 triumph inspired today’s stars.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s photo at the Gateway of India is more than just a tribute to MS Dhoni’s legacy. It’s a statement, a celebration of equality, resilience and a reminder that Indian cricket’s golden age now shines just as brightly on both sides of the game.
