A heartwarming moment from India’s ICC Women’s ODI World Cup win at the DY Patil Stadium has gone viral and features Radha Yadav’s father lifting the World Cup trophy during the post-match celebrations. Surrounded by cheers and applause from the players and support staff, he proudly lifted the trophy and became one of the most talked about figures of the evening. The image, widely shared online, captured the joy and emotion behind India’s historic achievement.
India defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the final to claim their first ever Women’s ODI World Cup title. The win led to an outpouring of recognition across the country.
On Monday, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia announced a cash reward of ₹51 crore for the team. “As a token of appreciation, BCCI will reward the Indian women’s cricket team with an amount of 51 crores. The reward includes all the players, support staff and the national selection committee,” Saikia said.
Apart from the national recognition, the Maharashtra state cabinet also congratulated the team on Tuesday. The Cabinet passed a resolution felicitating the players and further approved a proposal to award cash prizes to Maharashtra cricketers Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues and Radha Yadav for their contribution in winning the title. The Chief Minister’s Office confirmed the decision, saying that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis chaired the meeting, while Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar also praised the team’s success.
Image: Instagram Stories/Radha Yadav
For Radha Yadav, this tournament was one of the smartest moments they came. She played in three World Cup matches, including a standout performance against Bangladesh where she returned 3 for 30 to help India gain control through the middle overs. The semi-final against Australia was tough, but Radha got the crucial wicket of Ellyse Perry, who was batting on 77 and looked dangerous. In the final, Radha bowled five overs for 45 runs and got into pressure situations when needed.
The now-famous moment when her father lifted the trophy resonated with fans because it symbolized what success in sports often represents: family sacrifice, pride and shared dreams. Radha’s journey, like that of many players in the team, was shaped by the support and faith of the home team.
India’s World Cup victory made history. But that one emotional photo reminded everyone why she matters.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
November 4, 2025
