India’s newly crowned World Cup-winning captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, has opened up about her humble beginnings, revealing how her father’s old cricket bat sparked her lifelong dream of playing for India. In a heartwarming video shared by the BCCI after India’s historic 52-run victory over South Africa in the Women’s ODI World Cup final at Navi Mumbai, Harmanpreet spoke about her journey from a young girl in Punjab’s Moga to becoming the face of women’s cricket in India.
“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always had a bat in my hand. I remember taking one from my dad’s kit bag — it was too big for me. One day, he carved a small bat out of one of his old ones so I could play. That’s where it all began,” she recalled. “Watching India play on TV, especially in the World Cups, I used to think, I want that opportunity. Back then, I didn’t even know women’s cricket existed. But that small spark turned into my biggest dream.”
Her father, Harmandar Singh Bhullar, once an aspiring cricketer himself, supported her unconditionally despite limited resources. Working as a clerk in a local court, he ensured his daughter’s passion never faded.
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“My dream was always to wear the blue jersey,” Harmanpreet Singh said. “It means everything — not just to me, but to every girl who believes in herself. I had no idea where destiny would take me, but belief and hard work made it happen.”
Feeling of being a world champion 🏆
Support of an entire nation 🇮🇳
Power of self-belief 🙌@ImHarmanpreet is 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 ✨🎥 In Conversation with #TeamIndia‘s World Cup-winning captain 👌 – By @mihirlee_58 #WomenInBlue | #CWC25 | #Champions pic.twitter.com/ojubOBgLGk
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) November 4, 2025
At 36, Harmanpreet finally fulfilled the dream that began in her backyard. “It’s emotional. From the moment I started playing, I wanted to win a World Cup. Leading this team and finally doing it feels magical. Everything just fell into place — it’s like God was listening to every word I said,” she said with tears of joy.
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The skipper also reflected on the heartbreak of the 2017 World Cup final, where India fell short by nine runs against England. “That loss hurt deeply, but the love and welcome we received back home made us realise the country was ready to embrace women’s cricket,” she said. “That support kept us going.”
Sharing the glory with teammates Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, and the rest of the squad, Harmanpreet credited India’s triumph to collective strength. “This victory belongs to everyone — the players, the fans, and every girl who dared to dream. We weren’t playing alone; the whole nation was with us,” she concluded, her voice filled with pride and gratitude.
