India captain Harmanpreet Kaur credited head coach Amol Muzumdar’s fiery pep talk for sparking India’s comeback spirit after their painful loss to England earlier in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025. Following that defeat, Muzumdar’s emotional words became the turning point that inspired India’s record-breaking chase against Australia in the semi-final. Chasing 339 — the highest successful run chase in Women’s ODI history — India sealed a five-wicket win to reach the World Cup final.
The star of the night was Jemimah Rodrigues, who delivered an unbeaten 127 off 134 balls, forming a game-changing 167-run partnership with Harmanpreet Kaur. The duo’s calm and composure under pressure helped India turn the tables on defending champions Australia, showcasing the perfect blend of maturity and intent.
However, the road to this historic win wasn’t smooth. Earlier in the tournament, India’s heartbreaking loss to England — where they failed to chase 55 runs off 52 balls — left the dressing room stunned. That defeat led to one of Muzumdar’s most powerful team talks, one that Harmanpreet believes transformed the group’s mindset.
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“I didn’t say a word after that match because sir (Muzumdar) was the one speaking — ‘You should’ve saved the match,’” Harmanpreet Kaur recalled with a smile while speaking to Star Sports. “Everyone took it in the right spirit because he always speaks from the heart. After that, I spoke to the players too, to understand their mindset. Sir expected the right things from us, and so did the entire country. Everyone responded positively, and you could see the results today.”
How did #TeamIndia make a comeback after three losses in a row? Now we know the answer! 😁
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Amol Muzumdar, who joined the conversation, admitted that his outburst came from emotion, but with purpose. “Yes, I did say a few things in the dressing room, but it was in good spirit. The players knew what needed to be done,” he said.
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India’s calculated response to that tough moment paid off in style. Rodrigues’ hundred, combined with key cameos from Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh, steadied the chase. Amanjot Kaur’s boundary off Sophie Molineux sealed the deal, sparking joyous celebrations.
India will now take on South Africa in the World Cup final on November 2 in Navi Mumbai, as the Proteas enter the clash on high confidence after their 100-run victory over England.
