Just a day before the highly anticipated Women’s World Cup final against South Africa, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur kept her training light and spirits high in Navi Mumbai. Her relaxed demeanor was evident when a broadcast journalist, noticing her not batting, asked about it. “Kal karungi (I will, tomorrow),” she replied confidently, a calm assurance in her voice.
The 36-year-old, a veteran who significantly contributed to India’s journey to the 2017 final, now finds herself leading the team to the pinnacle of a home World Cup in her first stint as a 50-over skipper.
Harmanpreet’s powerful ‘angry-young-woman’ persona has often been a driving force, famously fueling her iconic unbeaten 171 in the 2017 semi-final against Australia. This time, India once again bested Australia, with Harmanpreet scoring 89 to achieve the highest-ever run chase in women’s ODIs. However, it was her unfiltered display of emotion and tears that truly captured the world’s attention.
“I’m a very emotional person, and I cry a lot, often the first to, in defeat and victory. As a player, these moments are important,” she shared. “To beat a team like Australia, which is a formidable side and has always excelled on the world stage, is mentally challenging. Overcoming that hurdle was incredibly special for all of us. I always tell my team that you don’t need to control your emotions. If you feel like crying, cry.”
She added, “We understand the pain of losing, but we are genuinely excited to experience the joy of winning. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a special day for us.”
India’s path to the final has been far from smooth, marked by losses to all three other semifinalists during the league stage. Despite these setbacks, Harmanpreet highlighted the team’s unwavering focus on the ultimate goal.
“Even after three significant losses, the team’s resolve never wavered,” she explained. “Throughout it all, we constantly reminded ourselves that this is a long journey with inevitable ups and downs. Some teams will win, some will lose. Ultimately, we just needed to reach the end. While we discussed improvements, we all shared that single goal and maintained a positive outlook, supporting each other every step of the way.”