‘This World Cup, we brought you the trophy’: Indian Women’s Cricket Team celebrates victory with PM Modi

While Modi congratulated the Indian women’s team for winning the ICC World Cup Trophy, the players interacted with the PM, sharing their experiences.

“You have doubled our joy of winning this trophy. We will try to meet you often now by winning more tournaments,” added Harmanpreet.

Her deputy, Smriti Mandhana, also remembered the last 2017 meeting and appreciated the words of wisdom passed on by Modi. “Last time (in 2017), you motivated us well, and you are an inspiration not only in cricket but in other fields as well,” said Smriti.

“The best part of this team was that everyone played an important role in this win. And every player will have a lot of stories to tell to future generations,” added the vice-captain.

“There was intuition; we would win the trophy. Each of the team members was very positive about tackling the debacle, just like you (Modi) handle the situation,” added the skipper, while stressing the need to shrug off the past and live in the present. On being asked why she kept the ball after grabbing the winning catch, the skipper said it was meant for her, so she kept it. While appreciating the Indian women’s team’s World Cup win, Modi said that cricket in India is more than a sport; it is ‘life’ for Indian fans. One win changes the emotions of Indian fans.

“You were trolled badly after losing three matches, but now, after winning the World Cup, the same fans have come to support you,” said the PM. “The way we revived ourselves (after three defeats) showed our strength as a team. The team played like a family; we supported each other in all the ups and downs,” said Jemimah Rodrigues. While Kranti Gaud explained the way to release pressure, Modi asked who was responsible for performing this duty. “The skipper always asks us to smile, just to release the pressure,” said Kranti.

“It was Jemimah,” she added when Modi asked, “Who was given the task to make you laugh?” Harleen Deol, who was credited with cooling down the team’s atmosphere with Jemimah, added: “I think this is equally important as playing. I believe I can handle this well…so I make sure to keep the environment alive,” said Harleen.

When the PM asked if she did something like this before coming to the interaction, the middle-order Punjab batter laughed, “They asked us to maintain discipline here.” Despite the suggestion, she ended up living her true nature, as she asked the PM about his skin routine. “Sir, if I may ask, what is your skin routine…your face glows,” asked Harleen, to which Modi replied, “I never thought about this.” Spinner Sneh Rana added, “It must be the love you are getting from the people of India.”

Coach Amol Mumzdar also took the opportunity to share his experience. “Sir, you must have seen the questions they ask. I have been their coach for two years, and my hair has now turned grey.” He also appreciated the PM’s gesture of allowing every member of the support staff for this post-winning interaction. “They have played like real champions. They deserve this trophy after rigorous two years of hard work,” said Mumzdar. In a lighter vein, Modi also spoke about Amanjot Kaur’s fumbled catch in the final.

“While catching, you must have been seeing the ball, but after catching it, you must have been seeing the trophy,” he joked. During the interaction, Player of the Tournament Deepti Sharma told Modi she had been waiting to meet him since 2017, recalling how he had then urged them to keep working hard to achieve their dream. When the Prime Minister mentioned her “Jai Shri Ram” Instagram bio and the tattoo of Lord Hanuman on her arm, Deepti smiled and said they gave her strength.

“So DSP (referring to Deepti), how was your experience? You are quite authoritative on the ground, what’s your take on this,” Modi asked.

The players will now disperse to their respective hometowns. Shafali Verma, however, will head to Nagaland to lead the North Zone side in the upcoming Inter-Zonal T20 meet. Modi asked Shafali why she preferred cricket over wrestling, despite coming from a wrestling stronghold; the power-hitting all-rounder credited her father for taking up the sport. “He himself was not able to take up cricket in a big way, but he made me live this day,” said Shafali. Pratika Rawal, who was not part of the team in the semifinal and final, also appreciated the team’s unity in achieving the milestone.

The Harmanpreet-led side arrived in the national capital on Tuesday evening after winning its World Cup title with a 52-run victory over South Africa at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.