Women's ODI World Cup: Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur vows to ‘break the barrier' at home
Mumbai:
Even as uncertainty lingers over Bengaluru's status as a venue for the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup in India from Sept 30, the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the BCCI on Monday held an event in the city to mark the tournament's 50-day countdown.
Bengaluru is slated to host four matches, including the opening fixture between India and Sri Lanka on Sept 30, along with three other games, one of which is the semifinal and the final on Nov 2 (if Pakistan do not qualify). However, a stampede near the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in June — during RCB's IPL victory celebrations — claimed 11 lives. Since then, local police have denied the Karnataka State Cricket Association permission to stage matches at the venue.
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For all the strides women's cricket has made in India — including the launch of the Women's Premier League — the national women's team is yet to win a World Cup.
At the countdown launch, India captain
Harmanpreet Kaur
, flanked by vice-captain
Smriti Mandhana
and batter Jemimah Rodrigues, declared her side's determination to 'break the final barrier' and create history at home.
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'Playing at home is special, and hopefully this time we'll and break the barrier that all Indians have been waiting for.
World Cups are always special, and I want to do something special for my country,' said Harmanpreet.
India have been runners-up in 2005, third in 2009, and seventh in 2013 — the last time they hosted the tournament. Their closest brush with glory came in 2017, when they lost a heartbreaking final to England at Lord's, collapsing from 191/3 to 219 while chasing 228. That tournament also featured Harmanpreet's unbeaten 171 off 115 balls in the semifinal against Australia.
'I still remember that knock — it was very special.
A lot changed for me and women's cricket after that. At the time, I didn't fully realise what had happened, but when we returned to India after losing the final, the crowd waiting to cheer for us,' she said.
To prepare for the World Cup, India — fresh from a series win in England — will face defending champions Australia in a three-match home series from Sept 14. Harmanpreet said the contest will serve as ideal preparation: 'Playing against Australia is always challenging and helps us assess where we stand.
We've been working hard in training camps, and the results are showing.'
Mumbai: Cricketers Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues during an event organised ahead of the ICC Women�s Cricket World Cup 2025, in Mumbai. The tournament will begin on Sept. 30, 2025. (PTI Photo/Shashank Parade)(PTI08_11_2025_000165B)
The eight-team World Cup will run from Sept 30 to Nov 2, with matches in Visakhapatnam, Indore, Guwahati, and Colombo in addition to the asyet-unconfirmed Bengaluru.
Yuvraj Singh, India's 2011 World Cup hero, who attended the event urged the players to enjoy the tournament and focus on the process rather than the pressure of winning. 'Play the situation, not the expectation.
Be in the moment and trust the process,' he said.
Mandhana, meanwhile, credited the rise in participation in women's cricket to the sport's growth over the past eight years and the support of the BCCI. 'We've had great preparatory camps and an amazing England tour. We know our fans will come and support us, and we want to do our best for them,' she said.
Rodrigues spoke of her improved mindset and preparation: 'I want my confidence to come from my preparation, and that gives me clarity,' she noted. Mithali Raj, who led India in the 2017 final, said that edition was the sport's watershed moment.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
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