Fresh off their historic ICC Women’s World Cup triumph, where they defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the final on November 2, the Indian women’s cricket team received a grand welcome from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. On November 5, PM Modi met all 16 players and their support staff to celebrate their remarkable achievement — India’s first-ever Women’s World Cup victory under the captaincy of Harmanpreet Kaur.
During the special interaction, PM Modi congratulated the team for making history and encouraged them to use their newfound status as national icons to inspire young Indians across the country.
“Go to your schools one day. Meet the kids. Talk to them. They will ask you a lot of questions. Please answer them. This will become a core memory for them. They will remember you for life,” Modi told the players.
He further suggested that each player visit the schools where they once studied, urging them to interact with students and motivate them to dream big.
“Select three schools and, whenever you can, visit one school per day. It will motivate not only the kids but also you,” the Prime Minister said.
PM Modi Encourages Team India to Support Fit India Movement
Apart from celebrating their win, PM Modi also highlighted the importance of fitness and requested the women’s cricket team to become ambassadors for India’s Fit India initiative. Addressing the growing concern of obesity in the country, he emphasized the role of sports icons in promoting healthy living.
“Obesity is becoming a big problem in India. Reduce the consumption of oil by 10 percent. If people hear these messages from you, they will believe them—especially the daughters of the country. Your contribution will make a real difference,” Modi said.
Responding to the Prime Minister, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana expressed the team’s enthusiasm to take on these roles beyond the cricket field.
“Before the final, we spoke about how winning the World Cup could start a new chapter for sports in India, not just women’s cricket. We want to bring a revolution in women’s sports, and this is just the beginning,” Mandhana said.
A Lighter Moment: Harleen Deol Asks PM Modi About His Skincare
The meeting wasn’t all serious—there were moments of laughter and light-hearted fun. Bubbly all-rounder Harleen Deol playfully asked the Prime Minister about his glowing skin, saying with a smile,
“Sir, your skin is always glowing. Can you please tell me your skincare routine?”
PM Modi laughed and replied that he doesn’t think about such things, adding that it’s the blessings of the people of India that reflect on his face.
Team coach Amol Muzumdar joined in the laughter, joking that handling such lively personalities in the dressing room was the reason behind his white hair.
“As you can see, sir, these are the personalities I deal with — they’ve made my hair go white,” he quipped, leaving everyone in splits.
