While fiery skipper Harmanpreet Kaur credits her cool and calm head coach Amol Muzumdar for bringing in stability and inculcating a strong team-building culture, he hails her masterstroke of picking dashing opener Shafali Verma to replace the injured Pratika Rawal
Harmanpreet Kaur and head coach Amol Muzumdar celebrate the team’s historic win in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup final on Sunday. Pic/Atul Kamble
India's World Cup-winning captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s sharp on-field decisions and her seamless chemistry with head coach Amol Muzumdar scripted history on Sunday, as India clinched their first-ever Women’s Cricket World Cup, defeating a spirited South Africa by 52 runs at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
While Harmanpreet called it “a moment of pride”, Muzumdar, a former Mumbai Ranji Trophy-winning captain and domestic cricket stalwart, described it as “a watershed moment in Indian cricket.”
When Harmanpreet walked into the media room late Sunday night, clutching the World Cup trophy with a smile that barely hid her tears, it was clear the victory had been as emotional as it was historic.
“I’m numb; I can’t quite process it. We had ups and downs, but the team’s belief never wavered,” Harmanpreet said. “We weren’t looking left or right — just at our goal. A lot of things came, and that’s why we could lift this trophy.”
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur (centre) lifts the trophy as team members and others celebrate after winning ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. Pic/PTI
‘That loss changed it all’
The skipper revisited the team’s turning point, three consecutive defeats to South Africa, Australia, and England in the league stage.
“After that loss to England by four runs in Indore, everything changed,” she recalled. “We realised we couldn’t keep repeating mistakes. We began working on visualisation and meditation. That showed we were here for something, and this time we had to do it.”
A coach’s influence
Harmanpreet credited Muzumdar for instilling discipline and stability in a team that had previously struggled with frequent coaching changes.
“Sir’s contribution over the last two and a half years has been amazing,” she said. “Before he came, coaches were changing frequently. He made us practice day and night, refining every detail. He deserves huge credit for building this team.”
Muzumdar, who scored 11,167 runs in 171 first-class games, was known for his “khadoos” Mumbai style; relentless, focused, and tough. He brought that same mindset to the women’s side.
“It’s a watershed moment not just for women’s cricket, but for Indian cricket as a whole,” Muzumdar said. “The stadium was jam-packed, and don’t know how many crores were watching on television. This will inspire the next generation.”
India coach Amol Muzumdar plants the tricolour on the DY Patil Stadium pitch after the team won the Women’s World Cup. Pic/PTI
DY Patil — the lucky charm
The decision to shift India’s matches from Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium to DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai — following the tragic stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2025 victory parade in June, which claimed 11 lives and left several injured — turned out to be a blessing in disguise. India went on to win all their remaining games at DY Patil, defeating New Zealand, Bangladesh, Australia, and South Africa.
“When we heard our venue had been changed to DY Patil, we were thrilled,” said Harmanpreet. “We’ve always played good cricket here. We said, ‘We’re home now — let’s start fresh. The new World Cup begins here.’”
Shafali’s all-round brilliance
Opener Shafali Verma produced a stellar all-round performance, scoring 87 off 78 balls before taking two crucial wickets — Sune Luus (25) and Marizanne Kapp (4) — with her off-spin.
Muzumdar praised Harmanpreet’s instinct to bring Shafali into the attack.
“Shafali was a bowling option right from the start when she walked into the team [as a replacement for injured Pratika Rawal. I’ve seen her bowl all four overs in domestic T20s. But introducing her today [Sunday] was entirely Harman’s call — and it paid off,” he said.
‘A team that stands together’
When asked what made this group special, Muzumdar said:
“Two years have been incredible with this team. They’re all together all the time. We back each other. You’ll see, nobody leaves anyone’s back, and it’s been fantastic to work with such a talented group of players,” Muzumdar said.
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