Indian star player Amanjot Kaur revealed that the captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, called each one of the team members in a very warm and loving manner only a few hours before the World Cup final match against South Africa. Wanting so much to break India's wait for an ICC trophy, Harmanpreet told the girls to put on their best performance, and also to ensure that the trophy would not get away by a close margin again.
According to Amanjot, Harmanpreet’s words came from years of experience and heartbreak, especially the painful near misses of the past. “It had been more difficult for her because the highs and lows that she has seen are something that we haven’t,” Amanjot said. “She told us she didn’t want to lose by small margins again — everyone had to go all out this time.”
Amanjot shared that during the final, the team was so focused on taking wickets that they weren’t even watching the scoreboard. “We were just counting the wickets and not keeping an eye on the score,” she recalled.
The young all-rounder was one of the heroes of India’s campaign — from striking the winning runs against Australia in the semifinal to taking the crucial catch of South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt in the final.
Describing that high-pressure moment, Amanjot said, “My god, it was the toughest catch of my life. I’ve never fumbled before; I either take them or drop them. But this time, god gave me three chances.”
After completing the juggling one-handed catch off Deepti Sharma’s bowling, Amanjot’s effort turned the game in India’s favour, sealing a memorable victory and the nation’s first-ever Women’s World Cup title.
