On April 2, 2011, Dhoni’s Dazzlers gave the cricket-crazy nation a night to remember, lifting the World Cup and ending a 28-year wait for the elusive trophy. Fourteen years and seven months later — November 2, 2025 — another glorious chapter was written. Harmanpreet’s Hurricanes provided another moment of boundless joy as they emerged ICC World Champions for the first time.

The women’s World Cup-winning skipper landed in Chennai on Thursday for felicitation functions hosted by Velammal Nexus and Sathyabama University.

She recalled the sensational semifinal — a record-breaking chase (target 338) that dethroned the Aussies — and the emotions of leading the Women in Blue to the pinnacle.

“We knew how strong Australia was and were prepared for a tough fight. The situation was very difficult when I went in, but I was determined to take responsibility and remain calm.

“The partnership with Jemimah (Rodrigues) was really crucial. She was confident and composed. We told each other to keep fighting and stay positive. Once we gained some momentum, the belief grew, and we pulled through eventually.

Jemimah’s century was outstanding… I was really happy with how we complemented each other in that game,” said Harmanpreet during the interaction at Velammal.

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About the significance of winning the ultimate trophy and its impact on women’s cricket, the 36-year-old said, “Winning the World Cup means a lot, and as a team, we knew the importance. The moment you don’t have an ICC title, it feels empty. We really wanted to fulfill this goal… and now we have,” said the captain during the chat at Sathyabama.

“A lot of positive changes have already happened. As players, we ask for more matches, which we’re now getting. Now it’s about bringing more girls to the field and increasing competition, just like in men’s cricket. More competition will make the players and the team stronger.

“We’ve received messages from kids saying they’re now going to cricket academies. That’s exactly what we wanted — to inspire more girls to take up the sport. Seeing families encouraging their kids to play makes it even more special,” said Harmanpreet.

Published on Nov 13, 2025