In a video released by the BCCI, Harmanpreet reflected on how her cricket journey started in her childhood, playing with her father\u2019s bat \u2014 one that was much too big for her at the time. \u201cEver since, as a kid, I started getting a sense of what likes and dislikes are, I\u2019ve always seen a bat in my hand. I still remember we used to play with a bat from my dad\u2019s kit bag. The bat was very big,\u201d she said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cOne day, my dad cut an old bat of his to make it small for me. We used to play with it. Whenever we used to watch a match on TV, or watch India play, or watch the World Cup, I used to think, I need an opportunity like this. At that time, I didn\u2019t even know about women\u2019s cricket.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
For Harmanpreet, that dream grew into a vision \u2014 not merely to represent India, but to help bring about change in women\u2019s cricket. \u201cI was dreaming, when will I wear this blue jersey? So I think this means a lot to me, a young girl who didn\u2019t know about women\u2019s cricket, but still dreaming, that one day, I want to bring that change in our country,\u201d she said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAnd I think, it all shows that you should never stop dreaming. You never know where your destiny will take you. You never think, when will it happen, how will it happen. You only think, this will happen. So, I think, that was my self-belief, that this can be possible. And that exactly happened.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Having waited almost twenty years for this moment, the 36-year-old captain said she was overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude after the final. \u201cPersonally, it\u2019s a very emotional moment. Because, it was my dream since childhood. Ever since I started playing, it was my dream to win the World Cup one day. If I get an opportunity to lead my team, I don\u2019t want to miss this opportunity,\u201d she said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSo, I said all these things from the bottom of my heart. And God heard everything one by one. It\u2019s like magic. I don\u2019t understand how come suddenly everything is falling in place. Everything kept happening one by one. Finally, we are world champions. I am feeling very relaxed, very humble, so grateful to God, for giving this team, which we have been dreaming of for so many years, and we are living this moment.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Harmanpreet also recalled India\u2019s heartbreak in the 2017 World Cup final, when they narrowly missed victory against England by nine runs \u2014 a moment that, she said, ultimately inspired this victory. \u201cAfter the 2017 World Cup, when we came back, we were so heartbroken. We lost the game by a margin of 9 runs. We didn\u2019t understand how that happened because that game was also fully in control,\u201d she recalled.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cBut after coming back, the kind of welcome and motivation we got from Indian fans, that shows that not only us, the entire country was waiting for women\u2019s cricket to do something special for them. And special for the country.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Harmanpreet also recalled India\u2019s heartbreak in the 2017 World Cup final, when they narrowly missed victory against England by nine runs \u2014 a moment that, she said, ultimately inspired this victory. \u201cAfter the 2017 World Cup, when we came back, we were so heartbroken. We lost the game by a margin of 9 runs. We didn\u2019t understand how that happened because that game was also fully in control,\u201d she recalled.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cEverybody was waiting for this moment. And I think it\u2019s because of everyone\u2019s blessings and prayers that we were able to cross that line. I don\u2019t think we were alone playing in the stadium. Everybody \u2014 the entire stadium, people who were watching us on TV \u2014 everybody came together to win this. Because it wasn\u2019t possible alone.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n