Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted India’s Women’s World Cup-winning cricket team at his residence on Wednesday, commending their determination and remarkable comeback after early setbacks in the tournament.
Congratulating the team on their triumph, PM Modi praised their resilience in bouncing back from three consecutive defeats and gracefully handling online criticism. The players presented him with a signed team jersey emblazoned with “NaMo 1.” Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Mithun Manhas also attended the meeting.
Team captain Harmanpreet Kaur reminisced about their previous meeting with the Prime Minister in 2017, following India’s narrow loss to England in the World Cup final. She said that while they had met him then without the trophy, it felt special to meet him this time as champions. “We hope to meet you more often, sir,” she added with a smile.
Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, who finished as the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer with 434 runs in nine matches—including a century and two fifties—said PM Modi had always inspired and supported them. She added that girls across India were excelling in various fields, thanks to his encouragement.
All-rounder Deepti Sharma, who was named Player of the Tournament for her 215 runs and 22 wickets—including a half-century and a five-wicket haul in the final—said she had long awaited this meeting. Recalling their 2017 interaction, she said PM Modi had urged them then to keep working hard to fulfil their dreams. During the interaction, the Prime Minister also noticed Deepti’s tattoo of Lord Hanuman, to which she said, “It gives me strength.”
When Harmanpreet asked PM Modi how he manages to always stay in the moment, he replied that being present has become a natural part of his life.
The Prime Minister fondly recalled Harleen Deol’s stunning catch against England in a 2021 T20I, which he had lauded on social media, and mentioned Harmanpreet’s decision to keep the ball from the World Cup final as a lucky souvenir.
He also discussed Amanjot Kaur’s crucial yet dramatic catch that dismissed South African captain Laura Wolvaardt, joking about her fumbles before she held on to the ball. “That’s one fumble I like to remember,” Amanjot quipped.
Young pacer Kranti Gaud, who claimed nine wickets in eight matches, shared that her brother is an ardent fan of the Prime Minister — prompting PM Modi to warmly invite them for a visit.
Before concluding, PM Modi encouraged the players to champion the Fit India Movement, especially among young girls, emphasizing the importance of health and fitness in combating obesity. He urged them to visit schools and inspire students to stay active and pursue their dreams with discipline and confidence.
