Prime Minister Narendra Modi met India’s World Cup-winning women’s cricket team in New Delhi on Thursday, congratulating them for their “remarkable determination, unity and inspiration to the nation.”
“Cricket in India is not just a game-it has become a part of people’s lives. When India does well in cricket, every Indian feels proud, when it doesn’t, the whole nation feels it too,” Modi told the team.
“The daughter of the nation has done wonders,” said the head coach, Amol Muzumdar, adding that the team had trained “with the same energy and intensity for two years”.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur recalled their 2017 meeting with the PM after losing the final match. ‘’Back then, we came without the trophy. You told us to keep working hard, and today we are here with it, it feels like a dream.’’
“Maybe destiny wanted the first women’s World Cup to come to India,” added vice captain Smriti Mandhana.
Every Indian feels immense pride in Team India’s World Cup victory. It was a delight interacting with the women’s cricket team. Do watch! https://t.co/PkkfKFBNbb
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 6, 2025
PM Modi hails the team’s fighting spirit
Modi hailed the team for their resilience despite losing three early matches.
“You faced criticism and trolling, yet rose stronger. That’s the mark of champions,” he mentioned.
Jemimah Rodrigues echoed, ‘’A team isn’t defined by how many times you win, but how you pick yourself after a fall.’’
The interaction was a blend of seriousness and joy.
Shefali Verma, remembering her viral catch: ‘’I kept saying to myself-aa jaa catch, aa jaa, and then it came!’’
Fielder Amanjot Kaur shared that she still keeps the match ball, ‘’IT came to me after years of waiting, it will stay with me.’’
Deepti Sharma’s Hanuman tattoo
Faith also found mention during the interaction when Deepti Sharma spoke about her Hanuman tattoo. She told PM Modi that she had ‘’Lord Hanuman’s tattoo on her arm’’ and explained that ‘’whenever challenges come, taking his name gives me strength.’’
PM Modi smiled and replied that faith gives courage, adding, ‘’Shraddha jeevan me bahut kaam aata hai-devotion helps us face life’s struggles.’’
Shifting from sport to social impact, the prime minister also appealed to the players to visit their schools to inspire the young girls. ‘’Spend a day in your school, talk to children, share your story. They will remember it for life,’’ he urged. He also encouraged them to promote the Fit India movement.
Then came a moment of laughter when a cricketer asked the Prime Minister about his glowing skin. Modi smiled and replied, ‘’I have never thought about skincare, it’s the love and blessings of millions of Indians that make me glow.’’
The light exchange drew laughter from the team. As the interaction ended with laughter and applause, the women’s team promised to carry forward his message by inspiring the young students through their stories.