The Unexpected Call That Changed Everything
On the eve of the most significant match of her career, Indian women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur received an unexpected phone call that would become a pivotal moment in cricket history. The caller was none other than cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, reaching out to share crucial advice with the team before their ICC Women's World Cup final clash against South Africa.
Sachin's Wisdom: The Secret to Handling Pressure
In an exclusive revelation during The ICC Review, Harmanpreet disclosed the valuable guidance Tendulkar provided. "The night before the match, Sachin sir called," she shared. "He generously shared his vast experience and emphasized the importance of maintaining balance during high-pressure situations."
The Master Blaster's advice was remarkably practical: "When the game is moving too quickly, just slow it down slightly. Try to control the pace because when you rush excessively, the chances of stumbling increase significantly. That's precisely what we needed to avoid."
Creating History and Joining Elite Company
The impact of that conversation became evident five days later when India secured a historic victory over South Africa in Navi Mumbai. This remarkable achievement placed Harmanpreet Kaur in an exclusive group of Indian captains who have lifted senior ODI World Cup trophies, alongside cricket greats Kapil Dev (1983) and MS Dhoni (2011).
Even days after the monumental win, the captain admitted struggling to comprehend the magnitude of their accomplishment. "To be completely honest, I cannot process this achievement right now," Harmanpreet confessed. "Perhaps after several months, I will fully understand what we have given our nation. Currently, it still feels like we've simply won a bilateral series and are preparing to return home."
Emotional Family Moments and Childhood Dreams
The victory held special personal significance for Harmanpreet, who shared the emotional moment with her parents present at the stadium. "Whenever we see each other now, we simply say 'world champion.' It creates an incredibly unique feeling," she smiled while reminiscing.
"My mother and father were there to witness it. Lifting the World Cup trophy with them present was an extraordinarily special moment. Since my childhood days, they have consistently heard me declare that I wanted to wear India's jersey, represent my country, lead the team, and ultimately win the World Cup."
Recognizing the Key Contributors to Victory
When reflecting on the team's success, Harmanpreet was quick to acknowledge the crucial contributions of her teammates. She specifically highlighted Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, and Shafali Verma as the primary architects of their World Cup triumph.
About young Shafali Verma, she recalled: "Shafali demonstrated remarkable familiarity with the pressure and the grand stage. During that critical partnership building phase, we gave her an over - and she responded magnificently by taking two consecutive wickets for us."
Regarding Smriti Mandhana's invaluable contribution, Harmanpreet added: "Her contribution will remain eternally memorable. Whenever she bats, we all sincerely pray she scores a century - because when she accumulates runs, everything else naturally falls into perfect place."
Of tournament standout performer Deepti Sharma, the captain revealed: "She simply required a gentle push. We all sensed she was somewhat holding herself back. Now she genuinely believes in herself - and that transformed belief has fundamentally changed everything."
The Indian women's cricket team's World Cup victory not only created history but also inspired an entire generation, demonstrating how experienced guidance combined with raw talent and determination can achieve the seemingly impossible on cricket's grandest stage.
