India’s women’s cricket team has made history, lifting the ICC Women’s World Cup for the first time with a thrilling win over South Africa in Mumbai. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, with Deepti Sharma’s five-wicket haul and Shafali Verma’s sparkling 87, this was a victory years in the making.

As the nation celebrates , here are three essential reads that chart how women’s cricket reached this defining moment:

Free Hit: The Story of Women’s Cricket in India by Suprita Das

A ground-level chronicle of the pioneers who paved the way from 2017’s surge to India’s 2025 World Cup triumph. (Source: Harper Sport India/HarperCollins)

A landmark work of sports journalism, Free Hit (Harper Sport India / HarperCollins Publishers) tells the story of Indian women’s cricket.Covering its journey from its u

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