Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted the triumphant Indian women’s cricket team at his residence on Lok Kalyan Marg on Wednesday, celebrating their remarkable ICC Women’s World Cup victory. A video of this warm and engaging interaction was shared on social media the following day, capturing several heartfelt and humorous moments between the players and the Prime Minister.
Player of the Tournament Deepti Sharma, who delivered an exceptional campaign with 215 runs and 22 wickets—including a crucial fifty and a five-wicket haul in the final against South Africa—expressed how eager she had been to meet PM Modi again. She recalled their earlier interaction in 2017, when he encouraged the team to continue striving toward their dreams.
PM Narendra Modi, in turn, mentioned her recent “Jai Shri Ram” Instagram post and her much-talked-about Hanuman tattoo. When he asked how the tattoo helped her, Deepti replied with sincerity, “I have more faith in him than in myself, and that helps me a lot personally in improving my game.”
WATCH – Team India Meets PM Narendra Modi: Smriti Mandhana’s Reflections, Harleen Deol’s Fun Moment
Harmanpreet Kaur added to the exchange by asking PM Modi how he remains calm and focused in the present. The Prime Minister simply smiled and said it had become a habit over the years.
PM Modi complimented the squad for their resilience, especially after starting the tournament with three consecutive losses amid heavy social media criticism. He praised their ability to bounce back and turn the campaign around in extraordinary fashion. The players presented him with a signed Team India jersey bearing ‘Namo 1’, a gesture he appreciated warmly. BCCI president Mithun Manhas was also present during the meeting.
Harmanpreet reminisced about the difficult 2017 final at Lord’s, where the team met PM Modi without the trophy. “Today, we’re meeting you with the trophy, and we hope this becomes more frequent,” she said with a smile. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer with 434 runs, spoke about the motivation PM Modi’s words had given them. She also highlighted how girls across India are excelling in multiple fields, crediting the environment of encouragement created in recent years.
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The Prime Minister fondly recalled Harleen Deol’s stunning 2021 catch against England, which he had shared on social media. He also praised Amanjot Kaur’s now-famous, slightly fumbled but successful catch to dismiss Laura Wolvaardt. Amanjot joked, “I like this fumble,” prompting PM Modi to remark that after taking the catch, she must have been looking straight at the trophy.
Young pacer Kranti Gaud also had a special moment when she mentioned her brother is an admirer of the Prime Minister. PM Modi immediately extended an invitation for them to visit, adding a personal touch to an already memorable day for the champions.
