In New Delhi, on March 15, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur stated that winning the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup had fulfilled a dream that had motivated every woman who had ever played cricket for the country, and it meant a great deal to her team. In the final, India defeated South Africa by 52 runs to win the trophy for the first time at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
Harmanpreet, who took the final catch to secure the title for India, spoke with deep emotion about what the victory meant to a generation of cricketers who had waited for years. "It meant a lot to us because from the very beginning of women's cricket, we have been dreaming of winning the ICC trophy. All the women cricketers have been dreaming about that. But I think our team was able to achieve this, so I am very proud of this team."
"So, I think it's a huge achievement, and hopefully, we will continue to win ICC titles. And after winning, you feel amazing, and I think it's a great feeling. So, I'm really happy that as a team, we were able to do that," she said in a panel discussion at the BCCI Awards in New Delhi on Sunday evening.
She also recalled the intense tension before the final win was secured. "Absolutely. I think the last wicket that we were looking for, we were all just praying that we would get that wicket.
"I think not only I, but everyone on the team, was waiting for that opportunity. I feel blessed that the final catch came to me. I have taken many catches, but this one was special, and I am grateful that this catch came to me."
Harmanpreet also discussed one of the more challenging tactical decisions of the campaign – the decision to rest Jemimah Rodrigues for the match against England in Indore. "That was a very difficult decision for us because we knew that we had four or five batters, and all of them had to take responsibility for the team. But when one batter is a little bit underconfident, and I think Amol (Muzumdar, head coach) and I had a very good discussion that sometimes that small break can give you a lot of confidence."
"I think that was a great move, I would say, because I was still a little bit doubtful whether we should rest her or not, but I think Sir was very clear. I think that little break gave a lot of confidence because sometimes, as a batter, we overthink.
"I think that break gave her time to think about what she needs to do. I think after that, the way she came back, and I think the rest was the result. Credit goes to her for the way she handled the situation. I think as a player, we all have gone through this situation, and we know what we need to do for our team. I think all the credit goes to her and how she handled and how she performed when the team needed it the most."
Looking beyond the trophy, Harmanpreet reflected on how dramatically the landscape had shifted for the next generation of women cricketers. "Well, I think at least from now, girls don't need to go through the time that we went through in earlier days. We didn't know about women's cricket, but we were still playing cricket. But now, at least, there are so many opportunities, so many platforms."
"I hope that the time we went through, they are not going to go through that time. But now it's only about taking sport as a career and doing the things that you love. I think now opportunities are there. Now it's only about you going there and taking this sport seriously."
On the role of the WPL in accelerating the transformation for women’s cricket in the country, Harmanpreet said the tournament had been the catalyst in changing the entire landscape of women's cricket in India.
"I think that changed the entire women's sport. We were really waiting for that opportunity. But I think not only for us, but for all our domestic cricketers, I think it's a great platform for them. So we are really happy that we got this opportunity. I think we have seen in four years that we got the ICC title.
“Before that, we had been working hard, but sometimes you need that little push, and that little push really helped us. Now, as Surya (Suryakumar Yadav) said, there is no looking back, and hopefully we'll keep making the BCCI and our country proud."
India men's Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, also present in the panel, was asked whether he had any advice to offer Harmanpreet's side ahead of an upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup, to be played in England in June-July.
He deferred it entirely, saying the women's team had earned the right to be judged on their own outstanding record. "I mean, I think they've been doing so well. I don't think they need anyone's advice. They've been doing so well in the white ball, and we're very certain that they're going to do great in the World Cup as well."