In the quiet hours before dawn on Tuesday, India’s Women’s Cricket World Cup winner Sneh Rana stepped into the sacred premises of Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar Temple, honouring a promise she had made long before India lifted the trophy earlier this year. The visit, centred around the 4 am bhasma aarti, became a deeply personal moment of gratitude for the seasoned all-rounder.
Sneh had previously visited the shrine during the 2025 global event, where she prayed for India’s success and vowed to return if the team emerged victorious. With the triumph now etched in history, she arrived at the temple with a feeling of thankfulness and seeking continued grace from Lord Mahakal.
She wasn’t alone during the ritual. Actors Puneet Issar, Bindu Dara Singh, Siddharth Issar, and Amit Pachori joined her in the early morning ceremony. The group spent close to two hours in the serene surroundings of Nandi Hall, offering prayers before heading to the sanctum entrance to receive blessings after the aarti.
Sneh’s return to Mahakaleshwar comes on the back of a standout World Cup performance, where she made significant all-round contributions—7 wickets with the ball and 99 runs across 6 matches, including vital knocks of 28*, 20, 33, 8* and 10* at a strike rate of 113. Her impactful spell in the final further cemented her place among India’s key performers in the historic campaign.
Her achievements on the field have also translated into recognition off it. The Ministry of Railways elevated Sneh—along with teammates Renuka Singh and Pratika Rawal—to the post of Officer on Special Duty (Sports) following the team’s World Cup win. Before this, she served as a Commercial Cum Ticket Clerk with Northern Railways.
Adding to a memorable year, the 31-year-old was secured by Delhi Capitals in the recent Women’s Premier League mega auction for the 2026 season, marking another significant leap in her cricketing journey.
Sneh Rana’s Mahakal visit was more than a ritual—it was a heartfelt return to a promise rooted in faith, fulfilled with gratitude, and strengthened by the triumphs that now define her career.
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