Harmanpreet Kaur breaks silence on handing World Cup trophy to Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami: ‘We had decided…’

By Admin

08 Nov, 2025

India’s women’s cricket team made history on November 2, when the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side clinched their first-ever Women’s World Cup title by defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a thrilling final at the Dr DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. The victory not only marked a new era in Indian cricket but also paid homage to the legends who paved the way for this success.

A Historic Moment for Indian Women’s Cricket
As the final wicket fell Harmanpreet taking the catch off Deepti Sharma’s bowling to dismiss Nadine de Klerk celebrations erupted across the stadium. The Indian team lifted the long-awaited trophy amid wild cheers, but what followed touched every cricket fan’s heart. Instead of basking in the glory alone, the team made a heartfelt gesture   handing over the World Cup trophy to Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, and Anjum Chopra, the trailblazers who had laid the foundation for women’s cricket in India.

Honouring the Legends
Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami, who were present at the stadium for commentary duties, had both come agonizingly close to World Cup glory in 2005 and 2017. This time, though, their contributions were celebrated in the most fitting way possible. Harmanpreet and her teammates dedicated the historic win to them, recognizing their years of dedication, resilience, and leadership that inspired countless young cricketers.

Harmanpreet Kaur Speaks Out
Breaking her silence on the emotional moment, Harmanpreet revealed during an interview with the ICC Review that this gesture was pre-planned. “The last time, back in 2022, when we returned after the World Cup, all of us were really sad. We knew it was the last World Cup for Jhulan di and Mithali di. Smriti and I were sitting and talking, and we were sad that we couldn’t deliver it for them,” she recalled.

She added, “But we had decided that whenever we do it in the future, we will make sure that they would be in the stadium. We really wanted to capture that moment with them. Not only them, Diana (Edulji) ma’am, Shubhangi (Kulkarni) ma’am, and Sudha (Shah) ma’am, who was our coach when I made my debut, were continuously supporting us.”

A Dream Shared with Icons
Harmanpreet, now the third Indian captain after Kapil Dev (1983) and MS Dhoni (2011) to lift a Cricket World Cup, described the victory as a collective dream fulfilled. “Everybody was there. To share this moment with them was something really special to us. And whenever we were dreaming and visualising, they were actually with us. We didn’t think of this moment without them,” she said.

A Perfect All-Round Performance
In the final, India delivered a complete team performance. Deepti Sharma’s five-wicket haul dismantled South Africa’s batting order, while Shafali Verma’s 87-run knock and two wickets set the foundation for victory. The comprehensive win not only crowned India as world champions but also symbolized the culmination of decades of hard work, perseverance, and belief in women’s cricket.

A Tribute Beyond Trophies
The emotional moment of handing the trophy to the legends encapsulated the spirit of Indian women’s cricket   unity, gratitude, and legacy. It wasn’t just a win on the field; it was a tribute to every woman who dreamt of this day, fought for recognition, and paved the way for future champions.