The curtain was raised for the ICC Women’s World Cup as the trophy was unveiled in the presence of Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, ICC Chairman Jay Shah and World Cup winner Yuvraj Singh.
Harmanpreet Aims to Break World Cup Barrier, Inspired by Yuvraj
The marquee event will be held in India and Sri Lanka this year. At the unveiling, Harmanpreet expressed her determination to perform well on home soil and lift the trophy. Speaking alongside Yuvraj Singh, she shared how much his presence inspires her.
"We want to break that barrier that all Indians are waiting for. World Cups are always special. I always want to do something special for my country. Whenever I see Yuvi bhaiya (Yuvraj Singh), it gives me a lot of motivation," she said.
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India will host Australia for a 3-match ODI series ahead of the World Cup. Harmanpreet is up for the challenge, calling the series a key preparation step.
“Playing against Australia is always challenging and we get to know what our standing is. The series will give us a lot of confidence. We have been putting a lot of effort in our training camps and the results are showing," Harmanpreet noted.
Women’s Cricket Symbolises Change, Says ICC CEO
ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta, who also spoke at the event, highlighted the broader significance of women’s cricket in India:
"There is a larger picture here that has to do with what this means to the country. The growth of women's cricket in many ways is a reflection of the country's progress," he said.
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He added that cricket plays a powerful role in normalising women’s participation in traditionally male-dominated spaces and promotes equal opportunity:
"It normalises women occupying spaces which were traditionally occupied by men. It normalises women being outdoors. It also creates an opportunity for both men and women to come out and support Team India — not just the men in blue but the women in blue."
ICC CEO concluded by reflecting on how far women's cricket has come and the importance of this World Cup in taking the sport to the next level.
"In every sense, the growth of women's cricket over the last eight years has brought us to this moment where it is time for women's cricket to take the next leap.. This World Cup can be the springboard for that next leap.
World Cups are more than just events; they are apertures for building trans-generational legacies and fostering new cultures," he concluded.
The 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup begins on September 30 in India, with the host nation facing Sri Lanka in the curtain-raiser.
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