‘Shabaash Mithu’ to ‘Ghoomer’: Inspiring films on women’s cricket you need to watch after India’s World Cup win

The Indian Women's National Cricket Team scripted history on Sunday when they lifted their maiden ICC ODI World Cup title in a spectacular win over South Africa. This momentous triumph signalled off a wave of celebration across the country as they lauded the grit, passion, and sheer talent of the women in blue.

The victory validates the journeys of countless women who overcame barriers and chased their cricket dreams. Here's a list of some of the most inspiring films on women's cricket.

‘Shabaash Mithu’ is an excellent biographical sports drama. It chronicles the phenomenal journey of Mithali Raj, the former captain. Taapsee Pannu embodies the legendary cricketer's spirit in the film directed by Srijit Mukherji. It showcases Raj’s early struggles and her monumental achievements, while also highlighting the challenges women's cricket faced in India.

This Tamil sports drama is incredibly heartfelt. ‘Kanaa’ tells the story of Kousalya, a farmer's daughter. She passionately dreams of playing cricket for the Indian team. The film directed by Arunraja Kamaraj, strongly focuses on the extraordinary father-daughter bond. Her father fully supports her ambitious journey against societal odds and beautifully shows rural talent fighting for recognition.

‘Mr. & Mrs. Mahi’ explores a unique marital dynamic between a failed, but passionate cricketer who realises his wife’s raw talent. He then dedicates himself to coaching her for the national cricket team. The film directed by Sharan Sharma, and stars Rajkummar Rao and Janhvi Kapoor, beautifully navigates ambition and partnership.

This lively 2009 sports comedy is highly entertaining. ‘Dil Bole Hadippa!’ stars Rani Mukerji as Veera Kaur. Veera is a highly skilled cricketer, but she faces gender bias. In the film directed by Anurag Singh, Rani disguises herself as a man, Veer, to join the all-male team. The film tackles gender inequality in sports with a light touch.

‘Ghoomer’ is a truly emotional and compelling sports drama. It features Saiyami Kher as a talented batter. Her career is tragically derailed by a debilitating injury. The film directed by R. Balki, also featured Abhishek Bachchan playing the role of the unconventional, alcoholic coach. The film follows the unlikely pair as they train together to make the cricketer a skilled one-armed spin bowler (a Ghoomer).