Harmanpreet Kaur Vows to End India’s ICC Trophy Drought

Indian women’s cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed unwavering determination to break India’s ICC trophy drought at the upcoming ODI Women’s World Cup, starting September 30, 2025. Speaking at the trophy tour unveiling ceremony, Harmanpreet said the team aims to “break that barrier” that has kept India from clinching a world title, despite near misses like the 2017 ODI World Cup runner-up finish against England, which captivated the nation.

“We want to do something special for our country,” Harmanpreet declared, drawing inspiration from Yuvraj Singh, whose presence at the event alongside former captain Mithali Raj, teammates Smriti Mandhana, and Jemimah Rodrigues, fueled her motivation. The team’s confidence is high after defeating England in ODI and T20I series abroad, setting the stage for a crucial three-match ODI series against Australia, starting September 14, 2025, at home. “Playing Australia shows us where we stand and builds our confidence,” she said, recalling her iconic 171-run knock against them in the 2017 World Cup semifinal, a turning point for women’s cricket in India.

Yuvraj, the 2011 World Cup Player of the Tournament, advised the team to focus on the moment, not expectations. “Believe you can win the game for your country that day. Experience and self-belief will carry you through pressure,” he said, urging players to embrace the World Cup’s intensity. Mithali Raj highlighted the 2017 tournament’s global impact, amplified by social media and ICC’s promotion, as a catalyst for women’s cricket, with viewership reaching 180 million in India alone.

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Mandhana and Rodrigues emphasized a transformed team mindset, with rigorous off-field preparation driving clarity and confidence. “Our hard work off the field translates to instinct on it,” Mandhana said, noting the team’s shift toward disciplined training camps. The BCCI’s investments, including a ₹125-crore high-performance center in Bengaluru and equal match fees for women, have bolstered preparations.

ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta called the World Cup a potential “springboard” for women’s cricket, reflecting India’s progress in normalizing women’s presence in traditionally male-dominated spaces. “This is about men and women uniting to cheer the Women in Blue,” he said, citing a 300% surge in women’s cricket viewership since 2017, with 144 million tuning into the 2023 T20 World Cup. Posts on X echoed excitement, with fans praising Harmanpreet’s leadership but urging better domestic infrastructure.

Despite public concerns about E20 fuel’s impact on vehicles, raised during the summit, Harmanpreet steered focus to the team’s goal of ending a 48-year title drought. With Australia as defending champions and India ranked third in ODI rankings, the upcoming series and World Cup will test the team’s mettle to create history.

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