R Ashwin praises Harmanpreet-led India for honouring legends: Men's team never did it

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin made headlines with a bold remark following India’s historic maiden ICC Women’s ODI World Cup triumph on Sunday. He applauded Harmanpreet Kaur and her team for a heartfelt gesture that, as he put it, “the men’s team has never done.”

Ashwin praised the women’s squad for celebrating their success by honouring the trailblazers of Indian women’s cricket, Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, and Anjum Chopra. The legendary trio, part of the commentary team at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, were invited to join the champions in lifting the trophy, dancing, and sharing tears of joy.

advertisement

"This victory of the Indian team, how do you see it? Back in 2016-17, when Harmanpreet Kaur played that incredible innings against Australia, after that came the heartbreak against England. Jhulan Goswami was part of that World Cup. Mithali Raj was part of that World Cup," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

"Even yesterday, the Indian team gave the trophy to Mithali Raj. Why did they do that? I actually take my hat off to the Indian women's team for that. The Indian men's team has never done something like this," he added.

Ashwin’s words stood out for their honesty and boldness. He said what few ever do, that while the men’s teams often talk about respecting their predecessors, the women’s team truly showed it. No speeches or grand gestures, just genuine gratitude as they celebrated alongside the legends who paved the way for them.

"Sometimes in front of the media, we say things because that's the media trend, that this person did it or that person did it. But I haven't often seen anyone giving true credit to the previous generation," Ashwin said.

"Usually, it becomes about 'my generation's team is good' and 'your generation's team wasn't that great'. I've seen a lot of such discussions," he added.

Jhulan Goswami's tears of joy

The night turned extra special for Jhulan Goswami, who finally got to cradle the World Cup trophy she had chased her entire career. The veteran pacer, who retired in 2022, couldn’t hold back her tears as Harmanpreet and her teammates handed her the silverware, a moment that summed up years of effort, heartbreak, and hope.

Later, Jhulan revealed the emotional backstory behind those tears, a midnight promise made by her juniors that came full circle.

“You know what, before this World Cup they promised me, ‘We’ll do it for you,’” Jhulan said. “Last year, they came to my room at midnight and said, ‘We don’t know if you’ll be there next time, but we’ll win it for you.’ And finally, they did it. That’s what made me emotionally break down.” Jhulan said to Star Sports.

advertisement

India’s triumph in Navi Mumbai brought closure to nearly twenty years of heartbreak, finally erasing the pain of the lost finals in 2005 and 2017 and delivering the long-awaited World Cup glory for the women’s team.

- Ends

Click here to read article