Beginning the new year on a spiritual note, members of the Indian Women’s cricket team, fresh from their historic World Cup win, visited the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga in Ujjain. Seeking blessings from Lord Shiva, players like Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and others attended the early morning bhasm arti at the temple.
After a successful 2025, marked by their first ICC trophy victory, the team looks ahead to new challenges in 2026. Players such as Renuka Singh Thakur and Sneh Rana, in addition to Verma, sought the priest’s blessings as they gear up for the upcoming year.
Opener Shafali Verma shared the visit on social media, extending New Year wishes to all. Donning traditional attire, Verma, Renuka Singh Thakur, and Sneh Rana were captured in the photos. The players expressed their gratitude for Mahadev’s blessings and wished everyone a prosperous 2026.
Indian players had previously visited the Mahakal temple during the Women’s World Cup last year before a crucial match against England. The team’s victory over Australia in the final secured their first ICC title. Following a recent 5-0 series win against Sri Lanka, the team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, is gearing up for the T20 World Cup 2026, with matches against Australia and England lined up before the tournament in England.
