After her team’s historic triumph in the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, Indian pacer Renuka Thakur visited the Hateshwari Mata Temple and thanked her coaches, family and all those who supported her from childhood. Her journey from a hill village in Himachal Pradesh to World Cup icon resonates as a story of perseverance and teamwork.
From village nets to World Cup stakes
Renuka Thakur’s story began in Parsa village, Rohru, Shimla district, where she played cricket with boys using homemade balls and a wooden bat.
Raised by a single mother, she credits her uncle for spotting her talent and securing her academy admission. Following India’s momentous win, beating South Africa women’s cricket team by 52 runs in the final, she visited the temple in gratitude and said: “I do not have any words for my mother’s struggle. No amount of words can be enough … I would like to give credit to everyone, my coaches and all the people who have helped me right from my childhood,” according to a PTI report.
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World Cup hero returns home with legacy and mission
The winds of celebration have already reached Himachal Pradesh, where the Chief Minister announced a ₹1 crore reward for Renuka’s contribution.
On the field, she played a crucial part in India’s success, bowling a tidy spell of 0/28 in eight overs in the final and finishing the tournament with key wickets. Renuka said the win isn’t the end but a beginning: it will empower more girls to take up cricket and change the landscape of women’s sport in India.
Her pathway, from age-group cricket to becoming the top wicket-taker in domestic leagues, to her national debut in 2021, underlines her message that perseverance and support systems matter.
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In her remarks, she recognised her mother’s unwavering faith, her uncle’s timely recognition, and the small village that celebrated large dreams.
With this triumph, Renuka Thakur has become more than a cricketer: she is a symbol of what happens when talent meets opportunity, and when support meets ambition. Her story now stands as an inspiration not just for sport but for every young person who dreams of vaulting out of small towns to large stages.
