From Direct Hit That Stunned To The Catch That Sealed It

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On June 25, 1983, at Lord’s, Viv Richards was standing between India and history. Madan Lal ran in to bowl. Richards mistimed his shot, and Kapil Dev sprinted backwards from mid-wicket, eyes fixed on the ball. When he clutched it safely, India’s dream was alive. That one catch by the Haryana Hurricane didn’t just dismiss Richards, it turned the tide of the World Cup final and changed Indian cricket forever.

Fast forward forty-two years to November 2, 2025, in Navi Mumbai. Once again, an all-time great stood between India and their first-ever ICC title in women’s cricket. Laura Wolvaardt – graceful, gritty, and commanding – was batting on 101 off 97 balls. South Africa needed 79 runs off 54 deliveries. For India, the game was slipping away.

And then came the momen