Harmanpreet Kaur: “We Want to Make Winning a Habit”

After leading India to its historic Women’s World Cup 2025 victory, captain Harmanpreet Kaur called the triumph “just the beginning” of a new era for Indian women’s cricket. Speaking after India’s 52-run win over South Africa in Navi Mumbai, she said, “We wanted to break this barrier. Now our goal is to make winning a habit.”

Harmanpreet credited the team’s resilience and unity for the breakthrough win, noting that despite losing three consecutive matches earlier, the players never lost faith. “We knew we had something special to turn things around,” she said.

The skipper revealed that the decision to hand the ball to Shafali Verma during a crucial phase was an instinctive move. “South Africa was looking strong, and I just went with my gut. Shafali told me she could bowl ten overs — that confidence made the difference,” she recalled.

She also praised Deepti Sharma, whose five-wicket haul sealed the victory. “At the right time, Deepti came in and took those wickets. She was brilliant,” Harmanpreet added.

Acknowledging the opponent’s performance, she said, “South Africa batted beautifully, but in the end, they panicked, and we capitalized.”

Calling the win a defining moment, the captain emphasized the team’s commitment to consistency: “This is not the end — it’s the start of something bigger. We want to build a legacy of winning for years to come.”