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South African actress and writer Thanja Vuur, who proudly identifies as a “cricket nerd,” has praised India for its passion for the sport while expressing disappointment at her own country’s indifference toward the Women’s Cricket World Cup. Her remarks came shortly after India’s women’s team created history on November 2 by lifting their first-ever ICC Women’s World Cup trophy at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. ‘India, You Deserve This Win’ In a video shared on Instagram, Vuur lauded Indian fans for their unwavering enthusiasm and support throughout the tournament. “India, you win this World Cup. Your congratulations is coming. Just give me a few minutes because first I’m gonna tell you why. The reason is you,” she said, applauding the fans’ energy and commitment. She went on to highlight how Indian cricket icons such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, and VVS Laxman were present in the stands to cheer for the women’s team, a gesture she felt was missing from South African sports circles. “Who the hell showed up from South Africa? These ex-cricket players that you love from South Africa, the men… where were they? Oh, this event was not high profile enough for them,” she said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Thanja Vuur ? (@cape_town_cricket_queen) Vuur didn’t hold back in criticising South Africa’s attitude toward women’s sports. Expressing frustration over the absence of prominent figures at the World Cup final, she questioned, “Smriti Mandhana and the girls worked so hard. They did so well. But what does it feel like when none of these people show up? Did they just think we were gonna lose? Is that the message they’re sending?” She praised Indian supporters for their unmatched enthusiasm and said the fans’ spirit played a significant role in motivating the team. “You guys live and breathe this sport… It is breakfast, it is lunch, it is dinner. You are the winners of this World Cup. And you know what? You deserve it,” she added. Her video quickly went viral, drawing praise from Indian fans who flooded the comments with messages of gratitude and admiration. India’s Historic Triumph The actress’s comments followed India’s landmark victory, a moment that will be remembered as one of the greatest achievements in the country’s sporting history. Under the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian women’s cricket team defeated South Africa by 52 runs in a thrilling finale to claim their maiden ICC Women’s World Cup title. Batting first, India posted a formidable 298, thanks to crucial half-centuries from Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma. Both players later shone with the ball, helping bowl out South Africa for 246 and sealing India’s historic win on home soil. Celebrations erupted across India following the victory. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia announced a Rs 51 crore reward for the players and support staff, calling the win a “monumental achievement that will take Indian women’s cricket to a new level.” IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal echoed the sentiment, likening the achievement to India’s iconic 1983 men’s World Cup triumph. “It’s a red-letter day for Indian women’s cricket. What the men’s team achieved in 1983, the Indian women have recreated today in Mumbai. This historic triumph will give a tremendous boost to women’s cricket in the country, and I’m confident our game will now reach new heights,” Dhumal told IANS. Several celebrities and sports personalities also took to social media to congratulate the team.
