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NEW DELHI: Everyone had advice for the big day, but when it mattered, Harmanpreet Kaur knew which guidance to follow. The night before India’s historic final against South Africa, the captain received a phone call from none other than legendary Sachin Tendulkar.

“He shared his experience and asked us to keep our balance. When the game is going fast, just slow it down a little. Try and control it because when you go too fast, chances are you can stumble. That’s what we need to avoid,” Harmanpreet told The ICC Review.

Even five days after the triumph in Navi Mumbai, the skipper is still absorbing the magnitude of the achievement after 16 years of international cricket.

A dream realized after years of hard work

“For us, whenever we see each other now, it’s just ‘world champion’. It’s a very different feeling. My mother and father were there. For me, it was very special to lift the World Cup trophy with them. Since childhood, they’ve heard me say I want to play for India, lead the team, and win the World Cup,” she said.

Harmanpreet is only the third Indian captain to lift a senior ODI World Cup trophy after Kapil Dev (1983) and MS Dhoni (2011). Being the first woman skipper to do so makes it even more memorable.

“To be honest, I’m not able to fully process this yet. Maybe in a few months, I’ll realize what we have achieved for the country. Right now, it feels like a dream,” added the 36-year-old, reflecting on the crowning moment of her 16-year international career.

Key architects of the victory

The skipper quickly singled out three players whose performances were pivotal: deputy Smriti Mandhana, all-rounder Deepti Sharma, and young sensation Shafali Verma.

“Shafali had experience in previous T20 World Cups and had even won the U19 World Cup. We knew she could handle the pressure. In the final, when Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus were building a partnership, I decided to give Shafali an over. She struck back-to-back wickets immediately, showing how much she wanted to perform for the team,” Harmanpreet said.

Mandhana’s ability to consistently score runs and the team’s unwavering support also drew praise. “Whenever she bats, we’re all praying for her century. Her runs make everything else fall into place,” she added.

Deepti Sharma, the Player of the Tournament, finished with 22 wickets and contributed 215 runs, delivering match-winning performances against Sri Lanka, England, and South Africa.

Harmanpreet noted, “All she needed was a push. Sometimes she holds herself back, but she believes in herself for the team now.”

(With PTI Inputs)