Sometimes inspiration comes from the unlikeliest of places, and the same seems to have happened with the Indian women’s team just before the 2025 World Cup semi-final against Australia. According to Kranti Gaud, a member of the 11 that beat the defending champions by five wickets for the historic achievement, a four-month-old girl and her mother gave the team just the push they needed on the eve of the match.

On the eve of the match, members of the team and coaching staff visited a temple where they encountered a woman who shared a simple yet powerful dream: she hoped her infant daughter would one day become a cricketer. The sincerity of that wish left a lasting impression on everyone present. Moved by the mother’s faith and love for the sport, the team collectively resolved to give every

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