The Moment That Made History
In the early hours of a memorable night in Navi Mumbai, Indian women's cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur completed the catch that would end India's 16-year wait for a World Cup trophy. The 36-year-old skipper, who had experienced numerous heartbreaks throughout her career, immediately ran to embrace her father, Harmendar Singh Bhullar, in a moment that transcended cricket and became a family's dream realized.
A Father's Perspective: From Tears to Triumph
When shown footage of that emotional embrace, Bhullar reflected on the difficult journey that preceded this glorious moment. "That day, the jump and hug was by a daughter to share the happiness and joy with her father," he said. "But we have seen those days too, when Harman would cry after facing the disappointment of losses at World Cups."
The proud father emphasized how he and his wife had always been there to support their daughter through both triumphs and disappointments. "At that time too, my wife and I stood like this for Harman so that she could share all her sadness and disappointment with us," Bhullar recalled, highlighting the important lesson for parents and children alike about perseverance and belief.
Keeping Promises: The Jhulan Goswami Connection
The victory held special significance for former Indian bowling legend Jhulan Goswami, who watched with tears streaming down her eyes as she adjusted her spectacles. The emotional moment brought back memories of a midnight promise made three years earlier.
"Smriti and Harman promised me that they would do it for me," Goswami revealed. "In 2022, we weren't able to qualify for the semifinals. After that, the two of them came to my room at midnight and they said, 'We don't know if you will be there in the next World Cup, but we will win that trophy for you.'"
That promise was fulfilled in dramatic fashion, with Harmanpreet taking the championship-winning catch off Deepti Sharma's bowling against South Africa - the same combination that had experienced heartbreak in a crucial match years earlier.
The Long Road From Moga to World Champions
Harmanpreet Kaur's journey to this historic moment began in Moga, Punjab, where her talent was first spotted by coach Kamaldeesh Singh Sodhi. He remembers a young girl in school uniform, with her dupatta tied around her waist, seriously troubling senior boys with her pace bowling at the Guru Nanak College ground.
Recognizing her potential, Kamaldeesh persuaded her father to let Harmanpreet train at a private academy 30 kilometers away from Moga and even took care of her school fees. This early support laid the foundation for what would become an extraordinary career.
World Cup Heartbreaks and Near Misses
Throughout her career, Harmanpreet had developed a reputation for delivering her best performances in World Cups, though often in losing causes:
- 2013: Scored a fighting century against England in a losing cause
- 2017: Smashed an immortal 171 against Australia but India collapsed in the final
- 2018: Hit the first T20 century by an Indian woman but controversy marred the campaign
- 2020: Heartbreak at MCG in front of 80,000 fans in the T20 World Cup final
- 2023: Infamous run-out where her bat got stuck in the grass during the T20 World Cup semifinal
Her father recalled how after each disappointment, the family would focus on the positives. "We only talked about how India came close to the win, and it was only India that could give Australia a scare," he said.
The Sweet Taste of Victory
Speaking to the BCCI the morning after the victory, Harmanpreet struggled to find words to describe her feelings. "Even after sleeping only for 3-4 hours, I am feeling so fresh... When you win, when you become champions, (the high) you feel after that... that's what I am feeling right now," she expressed.
"Very relaxed, very humble. So grateful. It's like magic...suddenly everything has fallen in place. Aur aaj finally hum World Champion ban chuke hain," the captain added, capturing the surreal feeling of achieving what had seemed elusive for so long.
After 16 years of tears, toil, and near-misses, Harmanpreet Kaur and the Indian women's cricket team had finally reached the pinnacle of their sport, creating a moment that would be etched forever in Indian cricket history.
