In a moment that will forever be etched in Indian cricket history, Harmanpreet Kaur and her team finally achieved what generations of women cricketers had dreamed of — lifting the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. The 2025 edition turned out to be the perfect redemption story for Harmanpreet, who had endured years of heartbreak, including the painful loss to England in the 2017 final.
When she safely completed the catch of Nadine de Klerk to seal a 52-run victory over South Africa, the star skipper’s long wait for glory came to an emotional end. For Harmanpreet, this was more than a win — it was the culmination of years of persistence, belief, and unrelenting passion.
Harmanpreet Kaur shares Sachin Tendulkar’s timely call before the final
As India prepared for their biggest match in history, a familiar voice reached out to the captain with words that would prove pivotal. Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who himself had gone through the pain of near-misses before finally winning the 2011 World Cup, called Harmanpreet the night before the final.
“The night before the match, Sachin sir called. He shared his experience and asked us to keep our balance. When the game is going fast, just slow it down a little. Try and control it because when you go too fast, you can stumble. That’s what we needed to avoid,” Harmanpreet revealed on The ICC Review.
Tendulkar’s advice struck a chord with the Indian skipper as she kept her patience alive in the summit clash which helped her take important captaincy decisions during the epic finale.
“I was just thinking about all the advice I had received from seniors — to stay patient, to keep control, and to trust that our moment would come. And it did,” added Harmanpreet.
From heartbreak to history for India Women
As the final wicket fell, the Indian players erupted in pure joy. Harmanpreet, overwhelmed with emotion, sprinted across the field as tears and smiles filled the moment. For her and her teammates, it was not just a win — it was the realization of a collective dream. What made the victory even more special for Harmanpreet was the presence of her parents in the stands.
“I still can’t believe it. Whenever we see each other, we just say, ‘world champion’. It’s a feeling that hasn’t sunk in yet. We waited so long to experience this moment. My mother and father were there. Since childhood, they’ve heard me say that I want to wear India’s jersey, lead the team, and win the World Cup. To lift the trophy with them watching — that was the most special part of it all,” explained Harman.
A trailblazer in Indian cricket history
Harmanpreet’s triumph wasn’t just about ending India’s long wait for a women’s World Cup. It also placed her in elite company — she became the first Indian woman and only the third Indian captain overall, after Kapil Dev (1983) and MS Dhoni (2011), to lift a senior ICC ODI World Cup trophy.
Her leadership not only fulfilled her personal dream but also paved the way for future generations of Indian women cricketers to believe that the impossible can be achieved.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
