World champions India met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his New Delhi residence on Wednesday. Harmanpreet Kaur's team was accompanied by head coach Amol Muzumdar and BCCI president Mithun Manhas.
India defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the final to lift their first-ever global title in Navi Mumbai last week. "I still remember when we met you in 2017. At that time, we did not come with a trophy. But it is a matter of great honour for us that this time, for something we have been working so hard for so many years, we have brought the trophy here," skipper Harmanpreet Kaur said in the video of the interaction shared by the PM on Thursday.
"When we came here in 2017, we couldn't get the trophy. But I remember we asked you a question about expectations and that answer still helps us a lot," Smriti Mandhana said.
The victorious Indian Cricket Team met the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modiji, at his official residence.
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) November 6, 2025
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Honourable Prime Minister for his words of encouragement and support that continues to inspire #TeamIndia… pic.twitter.com/8vcO4VgPf6
"Our aim is that we meet you again and again in the future and take photos with you and your team again and again."
In the ICC Women's World Cup final in 2017, India had lost to England by a mere nine runs, after which the squad had met the Prime Minister.
PM Modi said, "You have done a great job. In India, cricket is not just a game. In a way, it has become the life of the people of India. If there is good happening in cricket, India feels good and even if there is a little bit of wrong happening in cricket, the whole of India feels bad."
Modi recalled Suryakumar Yadav's catch in the 2024 T20 World Cup final while speaking with Amanjot Kaur, whose catch of South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt sealed the fate of the final.
"You know, the last time Surya had come here after a similar catch," he said.
PM Modi also appealed to the players to go to their respective schools and interact with the kids.
"Once you go back to your home, naturally there will be euphoria and excitement. But after a few days, go to the school you graduated from and spend a day talking to the kids. They will ask you a lot of questions," he said.
"I believe that the school and those kids will remember you for the rest of their lives. You could then select three schools whenever you get a chance in a year — one day one school, and that way you do three schools. It also motivates you in a way," he added.
Batter Harleen Deol asked Modi about his skin care routine, which cracked up the gathering.
"I do not think about all that," the PM responded with a hearty laugh.
Jemimah Rodrigues, who played a career-defining knock against favourites Australia in the semi-final, highlighted the team's unity and resilience.
Every Indian feels immense pride in Team India’s World Cup victory. It was a delight interacting with the women’s cricket team. Do watch! https://t.co/PkkfKFBNbb
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 6, 2025
"The unity in this team is the best I have seen because whenever anyone was doing well, everyone was happy and everyone was clapping, as if they themselves had scored runs or taken wickets," she said.
Muzumdar recalled how only 20 members of the squad were allowed to meet Britain's King Charles earlier this year. He said that was when the squad manifested meeting PM Modi in early November with the World Cup trophy.
"We were in England in June and we met King Charles there. There was a protocol of 20 people. The support staff couldn't come. There were many players and three skilled coaches. I told my support staff, 'I am extremely sorry, but the protocol is of 20 people'," he said.
"They manifested a little. I said, 'we don't want this photograph. We want a photograph with PM Modi on November 4 or 5' and today is that day."
