Harmanpreet Kaur Reflects on India's Historic Women's World Cup Victory

A Journey to Glory: Reflecting on the Women's World Cup

After leading her team to their first ICC Women's World Cup title, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur shared insights about their journey, highlighting a pivotal moment during the group stages when they narrowly lost to England by four runs. Kaur emphasized that this defeat was a catalyst for change, motivating the team to enhance their mental resilience. Expressing her joy and relief at finally clinching the World Cup, she eagerly anticipates the celebrations and the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) plans for the team. India triumphed over South Africa by 52 runs in a commanding performance at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, marking the end of their title drought.

The Defining Moment: Setback Against England

"The past month has been quite remarkable. It's uncommon for things to deviate from your expectations while maintaining a positive outlook. We were all eager for this cup, which held special significance for our group. No one questioned our next steps; instead, we all thought, 'It's alright.' The loss to England left us devastated as we were on the verge of victory but faltered. We had experienced this before. That day, our coach emphasized, 'You cannot repeat the same mistakes; you must cross that line,' Kaur recounted to the media.

"Following that match, everything shifted for us. We realized we couldn't keep making the same errors. We needed to approach the World Cup with a strong mindset. That night was transformative for us, impacting everyone. We began incorporating visualization and meditation into our routine. Initially, a couple of players were hesitant, but eventually, everyone united in this effort. It demonstrated our commitment to achieving our goal. As for the celebrations, we've long awaited this moment, and they will continue through the night! We are excited to see what the BCCI has in store for us," she added.

Kaur Acknowledges Coach Amol Muzumdar's Influence

Kaur commended head coach Amol Muzumdar for his crucial role in the team's World Cup success, attributing the newfound stability and structure to his leadership, which has allowed players to flourish.

"Sir's impact over the past two and a half years has been remarkable. The atmosphere in our dressing room transformed with his arrival. Previously, we faced frequent coaching changes, leaving us uncertain about our direction. However, with Sir, everything became stable and streamlined. He deserves significant credit for shaping this team, pushing us to practice diligently and focus on our areas for improvement. I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to work alongside him," Kaur stated.

The Impact of Victory on Women's Cricket

Kaur expressed immense pride and joy following the Women's World Cup win, asserting that this achievement will significantly influence women's cricket in India. She noted that while the team had been performing well, a major victory was essential to validate their efforts. Kaur believes this triumph will inspire young girls and draw greater attention to women's cricket.

"Absolutely. We've discussed this for years—we've played commendable cricket, but we needed to secure a major tournament win to initiate change. Ultimately, fans want to see their favorite team succeed. It wasn't that we weren't playing well; we were just eagerly awaiting this moment, and today we finally experienced it. Words can't fully capture my happiness and pride in this team," Kaur concluded.