The night truly belonged to Harmanpreet Kaur, and she ensured the celebrations were as grand as India’s historic victory. With pulsating Punjabi beats filling the air, dhol drums echoing loudly, and the skipper herself grooving in dark sunglasses and a hoodie, Harmanpreet embodied pure joy. Known for her usually reserved demeanor, she wholeheartedly let loose as the Indian women’s team transformed their World Cup afterparty into a vibrant bhangra bash.
Harmanpreet Kaur
Led by their dynamic captain Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian women’s cricket team secured their first-ever World Cup title with a decisive 52-run victory over South Africa in the final match held in Navi Mumbai. This monumental achievement was met with heartfelt celebrations, especially when Harmanpreet completed the final catch at midnight, etching a new chapter in Indian sports history.
Harmanpreet Kaur gets emotional after leading India to World Cup glory
Harmanpreet displayed a powerful range of emotions after taking that match-winning catch. She sprinted across the field, then paused to soak in her team’s jubilant reactions. Later, she shared poignant moments with coach Amol Muzumdar and revered former players Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami. The victory celebration reached its emotional peak as Harmanpreet and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana embraced Jhulan Goswami, dedicating their win to her with the heartfelt words, “Didi, Yeh Aapke liye thaa” (Sister, this was for you).
Addressing the crowd at the post-match presentation, Harmanpreet didn’t shy away from emphasizing the profound significance of this trailblazing victory for Indian women’s cricket. “This is the start. We wanted to break this barrier. And our next plan is to make this a habit. We were waiting for it, now this moment has come. So many big occasions are coming, and we want to keep improving. This is not the end, just the beginning,” the skipper declared, looking ahead with ambition.
Captaincy often involves meticulous planning, but sometimes, a gut feeling changes everything. Much like Kapil Dev’s intuitive decision to give Madan Lal another over against a formidable Vivian Richards in the 1983 World Cup, Harmanpreet experienced a similar instinct on Sunday. Her surprising trump card was Shafali Verma, who seemingly couldn’t put a foot wrong. “When Laura and Sune were batting, they were looking really good. I just saw Shafali standing there, and the way she was batting, I knew it was our day,” Harmanpreet explained. “I thought I have to go with my gut feeling. My heart was saying, I had to give her at least one over. And that was the turning point for us. In the end, they panicked a little and that is where we cashed in. At the right time, Deepti came in and took those wickets.”
Remarkably, Shafali, who had only bowled 14 overs in her entire international ODI career, secured two crucial wickets on that momentous day. “When she came to the team, we spoke to her that we might need 2-3 overs, and she said if you give me bowling, I will bowl ten overs. Credit goes to her, she was so positive and she was there for the team. Salute her,” Harmanpreet praised, acknowledging Shafali’s incredible attitude and contribution.