EVERYONE IS WAITING FOR US TO WIN THE WORLD CUP, AND HOPEFULLY THIS TIME WE WILL NOT DISAPPOINT: HARMANPREET KAUR

Harmanpreet kaur. 

Rakesh Thapliyal

New Delhi: With the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup India 2025 just days away, India Captain Harmanpreet Kaur reflected on her journey from debut to leading the team at home in a special conversation with JioStar, official broadcasters of the tournament. From her first World Cup at 18 to the pride of captaining India for the first time in an ODI World Cup, Harmanpreet spoke about the team’s mindset, the belief within the squad, and the emotion of wearing the blue jersey on the world stage.

Speaking to JioStar, India Captain Harmanpreet Kaur reflected on playing her fifth ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup:“It’s my fifth ODI World Cup and getting to lead the team in a home World Cup, it can’t be bigger than this. It’s a home World Cup but we do not want to put any pressure on ourselves. Our main motive is to enjoy our cricket. The 2017 World Cup was a game-changing World Cup for us that brought a lot of awareness in India. Now, we have a big bunch of talent, then Women’s Premier League also played a big role in our life. Every year has brought so much positivity in our cricket. I don’t think any player can explain how it feels when the national anthem is being played. It’s a very proud moment for me.”

On the team environment, she said, “All team members are looking quite positive. I think, along with that, even fans are looking quite positive because the amount of cricket we played in the last one and a half years shows that our team is ready for this big event. It’s important to enjoy, because no matter where you go or what tournament you play, it’s always important to enjoy your cricket.”

On her individual mindset, Harmanpreet said, “Even when we play a World Cup, the mindset is the same: I want to do something special for my team and my country. I always motivate myself that way. Whenever I go out there, I should not feel any pressure. Playing a World Cup, in home conditions, will be a very special moment for all of us. And if we are able to win here, that will be a very big moment in my life, and not just in my life, but for the entire country. Everyone is waiting for that moment, and hopefully this time we will not disappoint them.”

On her ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup debut, she said, “That was a very special moment for me. One day I was 18-years-old, cutting a cake for my birthday, and the next day I got to know that I was going to play. Representing my country in the ODI World Cup was a very big moment for me. Of course, I was nervous the night before, but when I entered the ground and saw the atmosphere and the crowd, it was truly special. As a young cricketer, I had always wanted to play for my country, and making my debut against Pakistan made it even more memorable because that is always a special occasion for all of us. The pressure on the women’s team was immense, especially for me as I was so young. It felt like playing in home conditions, and I did feel that pressure because it was such a big tournament in front of a home crowd. That experience taught me a lot, and it has helped me ever since.”

Catch INDIA v SRI LANKA in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup India 2025, on September 30, LIVE on JioHotstar and the Star Sports Network.