Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted the triumphant Indian Women’s Cricket team, praising their “remarkable resilience” in overcoming early defeats and social media trolling to secure India’s maiden 50-over World Cup title.
November 6, 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met with the victorious Indian Women’s Cricket team at his residence, congratulating them on their historic ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 victory and stressing the profound emotional impact their success has on the nation.
The Prime Minister lauded the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side for their stunning “comeback” in the tournament, noting the adversity they faced after suffering three consecutive defeats and enduring criticism on social media.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: “You all have done a very big job… In India, cricket is not just a game, it has become the life of the people. If everything goes well in cricket, the entire country feels good, but if there is anything wrong in cricket, the entire country shakes.”
The players, who arrived as the first-ever Women’s ODI World Cup champions for India, gifted the Prime Minister a signed jersey with ‘Namo 1’ printed on it.
A Full Circle Moment
The meeting was particularly poignant for the team, as it marked a return to the Prime Minister’s residence, having visited as runners-up following the 2017 World Cup final loss.
- Captain Harmanpreet Kaur recalled the 2017 meeting, expressing her pride: “We remember the last time we met you in 2017, we could not get the trophy, but we are really proud that this time, we have become the world champions.”
- Vice-Captain Smriti Mandhana also credited the Prime Minister’s encouragement from that time. “When we met you in 2017, we could not bring the trophy. We asked you about your expectations, and your answer helped us a lot for the next six to seven years. You have always been our inspiration,” she said.
Head Coach Amol Mazumdar spoke on behalf of the team, expressing that they felt “honoured and privileged” to be there.
Moments of Faith and Inspiration
The Prime Minister engaged with the players on a personal level, recalling memorable moments from their journey.
- He spoke to Player of the Tournament Deepti Sharma about her ‘Jai Shri Ram’ Instagram bio and her Lord Hanuman tattoo. Sharma, who had been waiting to meet the PM since 2017, smiled and confirmed that these symbols gave her strength.
- Modi fondly recalled moments like Harleen Deol’s spectacular 2021 catch and the decisive, albeit fumbled, catch taken by Amanjot Kaur in the final, joking, “While catching, you must have been seeing the ball, but after catching it, you must have been seeing the trophy.”
The meeting concluded with the Prime Minister urging the World Cup winners to use their platform to continue inspiring young girls across the country and promote the ‘Fit India’ message, stressing the importance of physical fitness and an active lifestyle.