The call from Tendulkar, who famously endured the heartbreak of multiple failed World Cup campaigns before lifting the trophy on home soil in 2011, served as a timely morale boost for India, who eventually beat South Africa by 52 runs at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai to win their first-ever Women\u2019s ODI World Cup title. \u201cThe night before the match, Sachin (Tendulkar) sir called. He shared his experience and asked us to keep our balance. When the game is going fast, just slow it down a little. Try to control it because when you go too fast, chances are you can stumble.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what we need to avoid. I was just thinking of all the advice I was getting from the seniors. To keep control, stay patient, the moment will come and you will be able to grasp it,\u201d said Harmanpreet on the ICC Review show on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
As the final wicket of Nadine de Klerk fell in the final, with Harmanpreet incidentally taking the catch, a wave of emotion swept across the stadium. For Harmanpreet and her teammates, the victory was more than just a title - it was the culmination of a long-standing dream.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI still can\u2019t believe it. Whenever we see each other, we\u2019re just saying, \u2018world champion. \u2019 It\u2019s a very different feeling. We were waiting for the time when we would get to feel this way. My mother and father were there.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cFor me, it was a very special moment to lift the World Cup trophy with them. Since my childhood, they have heard me say that I want to wear India\u2019s jersey, play for the country, lead the team, and win the World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cTo be honest, I\u2019m not able to think about this right now. Maybe I will realise after a few months what we have achieved. What we have given our country. I can\u2019t process this right now.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI spoke about the same with Amol (Muzumdar) sir, it feels like we have won some bilateral series and we\u2019re going back home. The impact of it is something we\u2019ll realise in a few months. Right now, it just feels like a dream,\u201d she elaborated.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India\u2019s epochal triumph was marked by scenes of deep emotion and symbolism as the victorious squad also got legends Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami to hold the trophy aloft. Both stalwarts, present for the final in commentary roles, had been central figures in India\u2019s near-misses at the 2005 and 2017 World Cup finals.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe last time, back in 2022, when we returned after the World Cup, all of us were really sad. We knew that it was the last World Cup for Jhulan di and Mithali di. Smriti and I were sitting and talking; we were sad that we couldn\u2019t deliver it for them.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India\u2019s epochal triumph was marked by scenes of deep emotion and symbolism as the victorious squad also got legends Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami to hold the trophy aloft. Both stalwarts, present for the final in commentary roles, had been central figures in India\u2019s near-misses at the 2005 and 2017 World Cup finals.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cShubhangi (Kulkarni) ma\u2019am, Sudha (Shah) ma\u2019am, who was our coach when I made my debut. Everybody was there. To share this moment with them was something really special to us. And whenever we were dreaming and visualising, they were actually with us. We didn\u2019t think of this moment without them,\u201d concluded Harmanpreet.<\/p>\r\n\r\n