New Delhi, Nov 5 (NationPress) On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the Indian women’s cricket team to his official residence at Lok Kalyan Marg, celebrating their remarkable victory in the ODI World Cup. The team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, was adorned in formal attire and proudly wore their winner’s medals as they were congratulated on this momentous achievement.

Modi praised their incredible comeback following three league stage defeats and addressed the negative remarks they faced on social media. The team had arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday under stringent security for their meeting with the Prime Minister, having clinched their first major ICC trophy by defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final of the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai.

During the meeting, Captain Harmanpreet Kaur reminisced about their previous encounter with Modi in 2017 when they did not have the trophy, expressing a desire to meet him more frequently now that they have achieved such success. Vice-Captain Smriti Mandhana acknowledged PM Modi’s motivational role in their journey, highlighting how girls have been excelling in various fields today, thanks to his initiatives.

Deepti Sharma, the Player of the Tournament, expressed her eagerness to meet Modi, recalling his encouragement during their last meeting. Modi also discussed Sharma's social media presence, including her tattoo of Bhagwan Hanuman, which she said empowers her.

Harmanpreet posed a question to Modi about his ability to remain present in the moment, to which he replied that it has become a habit over time. He fondly recalled the impressive catch by Harleen Deol during a match against England in 2021 and praised Harmanpreet for her quick reflexes during the final match.

Additionally, fast bowler Kranti Gaud shared how her brother admires Modi, prompting him to extend an invitation for them to meet. Modi encouraged the team to promote the message of Fit India, especially among young girls nationwide, emphasizing the growing issue of obesity and the necessity of fitness.

Despite her absence from the knockout stages due to an ankle injury, Pratika Rawal attended the meeting in a wheelchair. PM Modi was among the first to congratulate the team post their triumph, sharing on social media, “A spectacular win by the Indian team in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Finals. Their performance in the final was marked by great skill and confidence. This historic win will inspire future champions to embrace sports. #WomensWorldCup2025.”