The celebrations at Villa Parle were unlike anything the area had seen in recent years. India’s Women’s World Cup winning coach Amol Muzumdar returned home a champion and his community made sure he felt every bit of pride they had for him. Rose petals were showered, drums echoed through the residential streets and cheers filled the air as families gathered to welcome one of their own home. The women of the society formed a bat-raised guard of honor at the entrance and smiled through tears of joy as he entered.
For them, it wasn’t just about the World Cup. It was about a man from their own streets who helped India make history. It was personal.
Yet even amidst the celebrations, Muzumdar carried the same calm and grounded demeanor he is known for. When he finally spoke to the crowd, his voice was filled with gratitude, but his message seemed more than a moment away.
“Sports is the way forward,” he said, pausing as the cheers died down. “Let’s become not just a cricketing nation, but a sports-loving nation.”
It was a reminder that while this victory belongs to Indian cricket, the dream is bigger — to build a country where success in every sport is celebrated, supported and nurtured.
His life’s journey reflected this belief. Muzumdar has worn many roles, be it a prolific domestic batsman in his playing days, a respected voice behind the microphone as a commentator, an IPL-licensed mentor, a batting coach with international assignments in South Africa and the Netherlands, and now the coach who led India Women to their first major trophy. Through it all, he remained deeply connected to the local people, to the community and to the belief that sports can shape character as well as careers.
On Tuesday, as he walked through the company’s gates, surrounded by music, applause and people watching him grow, the moment felt bigger than a celebration. It felt like a full-circle moment—the boy next door coming home and carrying the nation’s pride with him.
And as the crowd chanted, the message was clear: this victory belongs to all women in the country.
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
November 4, 2025
