Prime Minister praises team’s mental strength, unity and inspirational comeback
Published on: November 07, 2025
By: BTNI
Location: New Delhi, India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hosted the Indian women’s cricket team at his official residence, celebrating their historic victory in the 50-over Women’s World Cup. The meeting came two days after the Harmanpreet Kaur-led squad lifted their maiden world title by defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a memorable final in Navi Mumbai.
The team, which touched down in the national capital on Tuesday evening, received high praise from the Prime Minister for their remarkable turnaround after a shaky start to the tournament, where they lost three matches in a row. Modi commended the players for showing exceptional resilience, especially in the face of social media criticism, and said their determination would inspire millions of young athletes across the country.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur recalled the team’s previous meeting with the Prime Minister after the 2017 World Cup. She said that this time, returning with the trophy made the moment even more special, and expressed hope that continued success would lead to more such meetings.
During the interaction, Deepti Sharma, who was named Player of the Tournament, shared that she had been waiting to meet the Prime Minister again since 2017. Modi also noticed the “Jai Shri Ram” line in her Instagram bio and her Hanuman tattoo, to which Deepti responded that her faith provided her inner strength.
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Harmanpreet asked the Prime Minister how he always manages to stay focused in the present moment. Modi replied that it is a habit developed over years of practice and discipline.
The Prime Minister also recalled several defining instances from the team’s journey, including Harleen Deol’s extraordinary catch in 2021, which he had publicly appreciated then. He also light-heartedly mentioned Amanjot Kaur’s juggling catch in the final, joking that while catching the ball she must have kept her eyes on it — but once it was secured, her attention was on the trophy.
Player Kranti Gaud mentioned that her brother is an admirer of the Prime Minister, following which Modi invited him to meet him in person someday.
Modi urged the team to actively support the Fit India campaign and motivate young girls to take up sports, expressing concern over lifestyle-related health challenges among youth. He encouraged the players to visit schools and interact with students to inspire the next generation.
The team is now set to return to their respective hometowns, though Shafali Verma will first travel to Nagaland to captain the North Zone team in the upcoming Inter-Zonal T20 tournament.
India’s championship win is being hailed as a historic turning point for women’s cricket in the country — a moment that not only marks sporting achievement but also symbolizes perseverance, belief and the rise of a stronger sporting culture among women.
