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India’s Women Aim for Redemption: Harmanpreet Leads a New-Era Team into World Cup Final

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, London
  • Nov 02, 2025
  • 549


Eight years after the heartbreak at Lord’s in 2017, Harmanpreet Kaur once again leads India into the Women’s ODI World Cup final — this time with a team that has redefined confidence, fitness, and firepower.

Back in 2017, India fell agonisingly short of their maiden title, losing to England by just nine runs. Harmanpreet had then declared, “We didn’t win, but now people know our name.” Today, her team no longer needs an introduction — it demands respect.

Turning Point: The 2017 Heartbreak

Chasing 229 at Lord’s, India were cruising at 191 for 3 but collapsed to 219 all out. That defeat sparked a revolution in Indian women’s cricket. After painful near-misses — including the 2022 Commonwealth Games final and 2023 T20 World Cup semi-final — the team finally broke through, defeating seven-time champions Australia in the 2025 semifinal by chasing a record 339 runs with nine balls to spare.

Equal Pay, Equal Pride

Under BCCI Secretary and ICC Chief Jay Shah, women’s cricket witnessed a historic uplift. From better infrastructure and data-driven training to equal match fees — ₹15 lakh for Tests, ₹6 lakh for ODIs, and ₹3 lakh for T20s — Indian players now earn on par with the men. The professional contracts and fitness culture introduced after 2018 have turned cricket into a viable full-time career for hundreds of women.

WPL: The Game-Changer

The launch of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in 2023 gave India’s domestic talent a stage to shine alongside global stars. The league unearthed new faces like Amanjot Kaur, Shreyanka Patil, and Shree Charani, who now form the backbone of the national side. Just like IPL changed men’s cricket, the WPL has powered India’s women into a fearless new era.

Coach Majumdar’s 300-Run Formula

Head coach Amol Majumdar, who took charge in 2023, instilled an aggressive mindset in the team. “Get used to making 300,” he told his players — and they did. From 1978 to 2022, India crossed 300 only four times in ODIs; in the past two years, they’ve done it 12 times, including 435 against Ireland. Majumdar’s mantra: no fear, no excuses.

 

The New Generation’s Bold Spirit

The new crop — Richa Ghosh, Amanjot Kaur, Kranti Gaud, and Shree Charani — have turned pressure into opportunity. Their energy, combined with the experience of Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, and captain Harmanpreet, has built a perfectly balanced squad ready to script history.

 

As India prepare to face South Africa in the 2025 World Cup final, the dream of 2017 feels alive again — but this time, with belief stronger than ever.

This is not just a team chasing glory — it’s a generation ready to claim it.