New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated the Indian women’s cricket team at his residence in New Delhi, praising them for their historic World Cup triumph and their “remarkable resilience” in bouncing back from early setbacks.
The team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, arrived in the capital two days after defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium — a win that secured India’s first-ever Women’s ODI World Cup title.
Modi commended the players for staying strong despite facing criticism after three consecutive losses early in the tournament. “Your journey shows the power of belief and teamwork,” he said, adding that the victory would inspire young girls across India.
Captain Harmanpreet recalled meeting Modi after the 2017 World Cup when the team had finished runners-up. “That time, we came without a trophy. This time, we’ve brought it home,” she said. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana said the Prime Minister’s words were “deeply motivating.”
Player of the Tournament Deepti Sharma, who scored 58 and took five wickets in the final, told Modi she had been waiting since 2017 to meet him again. When he mentioned her “Jai Shri Ram” bio and Hanuman tattoo, she smiled, saying they gave her strength.
Before wrapping up, the Prime Minister invited the players to visit their schools and motivate the next generation. The cricketers will now head to their hometowns, while opener Shafali Verma travels to Nagaland to lead the North Zone side in the Inter-Zonal T20 meet.
