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New Delhi: Harmanpreet and Co. landed in Delhi on Tuesday after winning the Women's ODI World Cup in Navi Mumbai. The Indian women's cricketers interacted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence on Wednesday. PM Modi met with every squad member and asked questions about their experience in the tournament.
The Women in Blue beat South Africa by 52 runs in the final and clinched their maiden ODI World Cup title on November 2. They enjoyed their interaction with PM Modi, who revealed his conversation with each World Cup-winning player in a live broadcast on his official X account on Thursday, November 6.
He praised the players for their resilience and comeback in the World Cup after suffering three consecutive defeats in the tournament. The Prime Minister talked about the trolling the players had faced on social media after losing early matches and lauded them for showing exemplary mental strength to bounce back and create history.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur recalled the 2017 meeting with PM Modi and said that they didn't come up with the trophy at that time. The Women in Blue lost by nine runs against England in the final of the 2017 ODI World Cup, after which the squad met the Prime Minister.
"But it is a matter of great honour for us that this time, for something we have been working so hard for so many years, we have brought the trophy here," skipper Harmanpreet Kaur said in the video of the interaction shared by the PM on Thursday.
The Indian captain further added that their aim is to meet him again and again in the future and take photos with him and his team again.
"You have done a great job. In India, cricket is not just a game. In a way, it has become the life of the people of India. If there is good happening in cricket, India feels good and even if there is a little bit of wrong happening in cricket, the whole of India feels bad," PM Modi replied.
Star India batter Smriti Mandhana recalled the 2017 meeting and how it inspired the team to win. She said that when they came to meet PM Modi in 2017, they couldn't get the trophy.
"But I remember we asked you a question about expectations, and that answer still helps us a lot. We tried a lot for the next 6-7 years. We have had a lot of heartbreaks in the World Cups. But this World Cup, I think it was destiny that the team's first Women's World Cup win would happen in India itself," she added.
Smriti further said that the girls are everywhere, whether it is ISRO or something else, and it is an inspiration and motivation for them that they could do a better job and motivate.
The PM then went on to ask Player of the Tournament Deepti Sharma about her Hanuman tattoo that has gone viral on social media. But the moment that had the entire room in splits was when Harleen Deol asked PM Modi about his skin care routine.
"Sir, your skin is always glowing. Can you please tell me what is your skincare routine?" Harleen asked with a smile..
"I do not think about all that," the PM responded with a hearty laugh. Head coach Amol Muzumdar also joined in the fun, jokingly telling the Prime Minister, "As you can see sir, these are the personalities I have to deal with. Which has now made my hair go white,".
After meeting with the Prime Minister, the Women in Blue will meet with President Droupadi Murmu on November 6.
