The Indian women’s team have won their maiden ICC World Cup tournament on Sunday when they beat South Africa in the final by 52 runs at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur recalled the advice former Indian men’s cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and others have given her ahead of the final.
“The night before the match, Sachin (Tendulkar) 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,” Harmanpreet said while speaking on The ICC Review.
“Try and control it because when you go too fast, chances are you can stumble. That is what we need to avoid. I was just thinking of all the advice I was getting from the seniors. To keep control, stay patient, the moment will come and you will be able to grasp it,” Harmanpreet said.
Harmanpreet also recalled how different it feels to be called a world champion. “Whenever we see each other, we are just saying, ‘world champion’. It is a very different feeling. We were waiting when we would feel this way,” Harmanpreet said.
“My mother and father were there. For me, it was a very special moment to lift the World Cup trophy with them. Since my childhood, they have heard me say that I want to wear India’s jersey, play for the country, lead the team, and win the World Cup,” Harmanpreet added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met the triumphant Indian women’s cricket team at his residence and lauded the players for their “remarkable resilience and comeback” in the World Cup after enduring a tough phase marked by three consecutive defeats.
The Prime Minister also referred to the trolling the players had faced on social media after the early setbacks and praised them for showing exemplary mental strength to bounce back and script history.
Recalling their earlier meeting with Modi after the 2017 World Cup, captain Harmanpreet Kaur said the team had then come without a trophy, hopefully they will achieve success and get to meet him more often.
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