Intro
Historic ODI World Cup win instilled confidence, belief to conquer global titles
New Delhi
Harmanpreet Kaur believes India’s maiden ODI World Cup triumph last year has infused the women’s team with the confidence and self-belief required to win titles anywhere in the world.
Reflecting on the landmark victory, the India captain said lifting the ODI World Cup at home was a turning point for the team, both mentally and emotionally. India had defeated South Africa women’s national cricket team in Navi Mumbai to clinch their first-ever ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup title, a moment that reshaped the team’s outlook.
“Winning a title is essential in any field to gain recognition. Otherwise, it feels like all the hard work goes unnoticed,” Harmanpreet said on the sidelines of a ceremony honouring her with a dedicated stand at the Omaxe Stadium in Dwarka. She acknowledged the contributions of past women cricketers, noting that many had made personal sacrifices to keep the sport alive in the country.
The skipper said the triumph has led to overwhelming support from fans and media, adding that it has motivated the team to aim higher. With the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup scheduled in the United Kingdom from June 12 to July 5, Harmanpreet expressed optimism about replicating their success on foreign soil.
“We will try our best. The last World Cup gave us confidence, and now we believe we can win anywhere,” she said.
India’s recent multi-format tour of Australia, though ending in a 4-12 points defeat, served as a valuable learning curve. The team won the T20I series 2-1 but struggled in the ODIs and the one-off Test. Harmanpreet described the experience as challenging yet enriching, highlighting the demands of switching formats within a short span.
“Playing all three formats together was new for us and required constant adaptation,” she noted.
The captain also termed it an emotional moment to see a stand named after her at the Dwarka facility. While the stadium awaits formal recognition from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, developers said efforts are underway to meet required standards and enhance infrastructure for players and spectators alike.