New Delhi, Nov. 4 -- Captain Harmanpreet Kaur's trophy-winning catch on Sunday ended a decades-long wait by India for Women's Cricket World Cup glory.

It may also have changed the face of women's cricket.

India has long been a global power in the men's game but had to wait until now for the women to finally become world champions.

And it wasn't for a lack of trying.

India made its World Cup debut as host in 1978 and placed fourth out of four teams. It hosted again in 1997 and reached its first semifinals, and lost the finals in 2005 to Australia and in 2017 to England.

Kaur was on the 2017 team and her scintillating 171 not out (from 115 balls) against defending champion Australia - the fourth highest Women's World Cup score - made t...