Indian women’s cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed heartfelt gratitude after the national side was honoured with the Sports Performance of the Year award at the NDTV Indian of the Year 2025 ceremony on Friday. The award capped a historic phase for the team, which recently created history by defeating South Africa in the Women’s World Cup final. That landmark victory ended India’s long wait for a global title in women’s cricket and also made Harmanpreet the first captain to lead the Indian women’s team to a world championship.
Accepting the honour alongside head coach Amol Muzumdar and teammates Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma, the 36-year-old thanked the nation for its constant encouragement and belief in the team. She emphasised how special the recognition was for every player who had been part of the journey and reflected on the relentless hard work behind the success. “First of all, thank you so much for honouring our team with this award. This matters a lot to each and every member of the squad. We worked incredibly hard to make our nation proud, and we have finally reached the point where everyone is appreciating our efforts,” said Harmanpreet Kaur.
Pride In Leadership And Team Spirit
Harmanpreet also spoke openly about the pride she feels in leading the Indian side, particularly on the world stage where the pressure and expectations are highest. She highlighted the strong bond within the squad and the mutual respect that exists among the players, describing the atmosphere as one that makes playing for the country enjoyable and fulfilling. “I receive so much love and respect from this team; it is truly fun to play with this lot. I am so proud that I had the opportunity to lead them and to finally fulfil the dream we all shared. I am deeply grateful,” she added. Her comments underlined the unity and shared purpose that played a crucial role in India’s World Cup triumph.
Praise From Cricket’s Leadership And What Lies Ahead
ICC Chairman Jay Shah, who was presented with the Transformational Leader of the Year award at the same event, also lauded the Indian women’s team and dedicated his honour to them. He credited the players and coaching staff for their efforts and highlighted the progress made in women’s cricket over the last few years. “I would like to dedicate this award to all our girls. Coach Amol Muzumdar also deserves a lot of credit for his contributions. Since 2019, we have made revolutionary changes to women’s cricket,” said the former BCCI Secretary.
With the celebrations now complete, the Indian women’s team is set to return to action later this week. They will take the field for the first time since their historic World Cup win when they begin a five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, marking the start of a new chapter after a memorable triumph.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
