A night before the ICC Women’s World Cup final against South Africa, Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur received a call that she says changed everything. It was from legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, who shared some words of wisdom that helped her steady her mindset ahead of the biggest match of her career. On The ICC Review, Harmanpreet revealed that Tendulkar advised her to “slow the game down” and stay composed under pressure—words that echoed through India’s historic title victory.

“The night before the match, Sachin sir called and shared his experience. He asked us to keep our balance. When the game moves too fast, slow it down and control it, or else you might stumble,” Harmanpreet recalled. That advice, she said, guided her through key moments of the final as India lifted their first-ever ICC Women’s ODI World Cup title in Navi Mumbai.

Harmanpreet said the magnitude of India’s triumph is still sinking in. “Whenever we meet each other now, we just say 'world champion'. It’s a different feeling. My parents were there too, and lifting the trophy with them was the most special moment,” she said. With the win, Harmanpreet became only the third Indian Captain after Kapil Dev (1983) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (2011) to win an ODI World Cup and the first Indian woman ever to do so.

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Reflecting on India’s journey, the skipper praised her teammates who played crucial roles in the campaign. She credited Smriti Mandhana for her consistency, Deepti Sharma for her all-round brilliance—with 22 wickets and key fifties under pressure—and young Shafali Verma for turning the final match around with her two-wicket over. “Shafali knew the importance of the stage; when we needed breakthroughs, she was ready and delivered,” Harmanpreet said.

Though the celebrations continue, the Indian captain admitted that the full impact of the victory will take time to process. “Right now, it just feels like a dream. Maybe in a few months, we’ll realize what we’ve achieved and what it means for women’s cricket in India,” she said. For Harmanpreet Kaur and her team, that night in Navi Mumbai will forever remain a milestone in India’s sporting history—one that began with a phone call from cricket’s greatest icon.

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