No Pressure, Just Pride: Harmanpreet Kaur on India's Home World Cup
As India gears up to host the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur opened up about her journey, the team’s mindset, and the pride of representing the nation in a home World Cup.
India's quest for a maiden Women's World Cup title is underway, with captain Harmanpreet Kaur hoping to lead the country to glory on home soil. Ahead of the Women’s World Cup opener against Sri Lanka in Guwahati on September 30, Harmanpreet expressed confidence in her team's ability to overcome past disappointments, having lost in the final twice i.e 2005 and 2017. "I’m sure this time we will cross this line," adding that the team has learned from past mistakes and is focused on simply "enjoying this moment."
A major boost to India's campaign is the form of Smriti Mandhana. The world's best-ranked ODI batter recently posted scores of 125, 117, and 58 against a visiting Australian side. Harmanpreet praised her teammate, stating, "She’s been great, to be honest... Especially when I’m batting with her, things are quite easy. You don’t need to stress too much because she’s always there to help, and having her is a big strength for us."
Twelve years after the last edition in India was played largely in silence, the current tournament is expected to bring in more crowd and support. The rise of T20 leagues like the WPL and WBBL, coupled with increased broadcast deals and financial investment, has resulted in higher skill levels, with the average run rate and boundary count per over seeing a significant spike.
Speaking, the Indian captain shared insights into her personal emotions and the squad’s preparations ahead of their opening match against Sri Lanka on September 30.
A Special Homecoming for Her Fifth World Cup
For Harmanpreet, this tournament holds extra significance as she not only plays her fifth ODI World Cup but does so as captain on home turf.
"It's my fifth ODI World Cup and getting to lead the team in a home World Cup, it can't be bigger than this. It's a home World Cup but we do not want to put any pressure on ourselves. Our main motive is to enjoy our cricket."
Reflecting on how far the women’s game has come since the historic 2017 World Cup, she added:
"The 2017 World Cup was a game-changing World Cup for us that brought a lot of awareness in India. Now, we have a big bunch of talent, then Women’s Premier League also played a big role in our life. Every year has brought so much positivity in our cricket."
"I don’t think any player can explain how it feels when the national anthem is being played. It’s a very proud moment for me."
Positive Vibes in the Dressing Room
The Indian skipper also highlighted the upbeat atmosphere within the team, citing the experience and cricketing exposure gained over the past couple of years.
"All team members are looking quite positive. I think, along with that, even fans are looking quite positive because the amount of cricket we played in the last one and a half years shows that our team is ready for this big event."
"It’s important to enjoy, because no matter where you go or what tournament you play, it’s always important to enjoy your cricket."
Motivation and Mindset: Staying Grounded
Harmanpreet shared how she stays focused and motivated during big tournaments, especially one as monumental as a home World Cup.
"Even when we play a World Cup, the mindset is the same: I want to do something special for my team and my country. I always motivate myself that way. Whenever I go out there, I should not feel any pressure."
"Playing a World Cup, in home conditions, will be a very special moment for all of us. And if we are able to win here, that will be a very big moment in my life, and not just in my life, but for the entire country. Everyone is waiting for that moment, and hopefully this time we will not disappoint them."
A Memorable Debut Against Pakistan
Recalling her ODI World Cup debut, Harmanpreet reminisced about being an 18-year-old cricketer thrown into the spotlight on a massive stage.
"That was a very special moment for me. One day I was 18-years-old, cutting a cake for my birthday, and the next day I got to know that I was going to play."
"Representing my country in the ODI World Cup was a very big moment for me. Of course, I was nervous the night before, but when I entered the ground and saw the atmosphere and the crowd, it was truly special."
Playing against arch-rivals Pakistan, she noted, made her debut even more unforgettable.
"As a young cricketer, I had always wanted to play for my country, and making my debut against Pakistan made it even more memorable because that is always a special occasion for all of us."
"The pressure on the women’s team was immense, especially for me as I was so young. It felt like playing in home conditions, and I did feel that pressure because it was such a big tournament in front of a home crowd. That experience taught me a lot, and it has helped me ever since."
