The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 returns to India after 12 years, carrying with it the weight of national expectations. Fans are eager to see Harmanpreet Kaur’s side rise to the occasion, but the skipper insists her team is not burdened by pressure as they prepare to open their campaign against Sri Lanka on September 30 in Guwahati.
“Well yeah, this World Cup is going to happen (in India) after 12 years, but no pressure at all, we’re all looking really well.”
India arrives at the tournament after a demanding series against reigning world champions Australia. Their campaign began with a narrow defeat in the first ODI. The hosts struck back emphatically in the second game, winning by 102 runs and handing the defending champions their biggest defeat. The decider turned into a run-fest, with Australia amassing 412. India’s reply brimmed with audacity, thrilled the crowd. Though they fell 43 runs short, their fearless approach left a lasting statement of intent.
Kaur believes India’s advantage lies in familiarity with home conditions and the passionate support that follows them across venues, “They have been outstanding, they have been supporting us all the time, no matter what. They’re always coming and cheering us on. I think home conditions and a home World Cup is always very special and I’m sure they’re gonna come here and support us.”
The team’s warm-up matches revealed both vulnerabilities and resilience. A crushing 152-run defeat to England raised concerns, but India quickly regained momentum with a composed four-wicket win over New Zealand in their final practice outing.
Kaur highlighted the value of these games in shaping team combinations, “The practice games we played, we tried to tick all the boxes. So, we all are very excited that we get to play a World Cup in home conditions.”
With 161 wickets in 38 ODIs since the 2022 World Cup, India’s spinners have been the most prolific unit in the world. For Kaur, they remain the cornerstone of India’s bowling identity, “Well, spinners have always been our biggest strength, they were always there when the team needed them.”
She also stressed that team selection would hinge on conditions, “No doubt, we’ve shown more trust in them (spinners) and they’ve always done well for the team but today we have a practice session, we will see how the pitch is behaving and the conditions and according to that take a decision on who to pick in the playing XI.”
At 36, Harmanpreet Kaur heads into what will likely be her last World Cup, remembered most for her iconic 171* in the 2017 semi-final that changed the face of women’s cricket in India. She now seeks to crown her storied career with the one prize still missing—a World Cup trophy.
For millions of young girls across India, the Women’s World Cup is more than a tournament—it is a beacon of possibility. As Kaur leads her team on home soil, her words carry power beyond tactics. Icons like Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami once blazed the trail, but too many dreams have been stifled by societal pressures.
The year 2025 offers an opportunity to rewrite that story. By playing boldly and with belief, Harmanpreet Kaur’s India can inspire a generation to dream louder, and this time, to follow through.
(Quotes sourced from the ICC)
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