At sunrise, the chatter outside cafes and chai stalls sounds almost familiar — predictions, score guesses, nervous laughter. Yet, there’s something unmistakably new in the air. It isn’t Virat or Rohit whose names echo through half-sipped cups of tea. It’s Harmanpreet, Smriti, Jemimah — proof that women’s cricket has moved from being an afterthought to being front and centre.

On the eve of the final, a few thousand fans turned up at the DY Patil Stadium, hoping to get their hands on tickets. Most went home disappointed — the online portal already flashed “Sold Out.” But for those who have followed this team’s journey, that simple two-word message felt monumental. For once, the rush for tickets to a women’s game was real, the anticipation electric. The big final was finally feeling like a b

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