In a historic moment of national recognition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to host a special meet-up with India’s triumphant women’s cricket team following their maiden ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 victory. The announcement comes just days after the ‘Women in Blue’ defeated South Africa by 52 runs at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai—a win that didn’t just end a decades-long wait but redefined the landscape of Indian sport.
A Victory Worthy of the Highest Honor
Leading the team with grit and grace, captain Harmanpreet Kaur finally lifted the coveted trophy after years of near-misses, heartbreaks, and relentless perseverance. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana delivered a match-winning 76, while bowlers like Renuka Singh and Radha Yadav dismantled South Africa’s chase led by Laura Wolvaardt.
Now, the entire squad—along with support staff and coaching team headed by Amol Muzumdar—is expected to be received at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) confirmed the meeting is “on the cards,” with formal invites to be issued shortly.
Why This Meeting Matters
This isn’t just a photo opportunity. For years, India’s women cricketers fought for basic recognition—equal pay, proper travel, and media coverage. Their 2025 World Cup win changed everything. And PM Modi’s personal invitation signals something powerful: women’s cricket is now central to India’s sporting identity.
Recall 2017, when the team returned from the World Cup final loss with quiet applause and no official felicitation. In 2025, they’re being welcomed like national heroes—because they are.
What to Expect at the Meet-Up
While details remain under wraps, sources close to the PMO suggest the event will include:
- A personal felicitation by the Prime Minister
- Announcement of national awards or special cash incentives
- A group photo with the World Cup trophy in the PM’s office
- Potential announcement of a nationwide “Cricket for Girls” initiative
PM Modi has long championed women’s sports—his “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” and “Khelo India” campaigns have emphasized female participation. This meeting is expected to build on that legacy.
A Symbolic Handshake, A National Statement
The image of Harmanpreet Kaur handing the World Cup trophy to PM Modi—or perhaps the PM placing a shawl on Jhulan Goswami’s successor—could become one of the defining visuals of 2025. It’s more than protocol; it’s a statement that India’s daughters are now leading from the front.
From DY Patil to Delhi: A Journey of Recognition
The road from the DY Patil pitch to the Prime Minister’s residence is more than 1,400 kilometers—but symbolically, it’s the final step in a journey that began with backyard nets, second-hand kits, and dreams dismissed as “unrealistic.”
Now, as schoolgirls across India pin posters of Smriti and Shafali on their walls, the message is clear: your ambition has a place in this nation’s pantheon of heroes.