Harmanpreet Kaur and Laura Wolvaardt shared their feelings ahead of the big Women’s World Cup 2025 final.
A day before the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup final, the two captains, India’s Harmanpreet Kaur and South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, presented a study in contrasts, outlining the mental battles their teams must win to claim a historic title at a sold-out DY Patil Stadium on Sunday.
For India, riding the high of an emotional semi-final victory over Australia, the challenge is to channel that intensity into focused execution. Harmanpreet, who was seen in tears after the win, made no apologies for her team’s passionate approach.
“I think I’m a very emotional person, and I cry a lot. So it’s not like I cry only after losing. I have cried a lot after winning too… I always tell my team that you don’t need to control your emotions. If you feel like crying, cry. At the same time, just keep enjoying. I think there is no bigger achievement or thing for us. Tomorrow is a special day and we will go with the same mindset,” Harmanpreet said.
“But I think the most important thing is that we have to enjoy this because there is nothing bigger than this in our life as a cricketer and as a captain. So our focus is to enjoy this moment and keep taking small targets which we have to achieve as a team rather than thinking bigger targets because you can achieve bigger targets if you achieve the small targets,” Harmanpreet added.
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She emphasized that the team’s journey through a wobbly league stage, where they lost to all top-ranked sides, has forged a resilient unit. “We weren’t shaken up even once in the team because of those three big losses. We had a positive mindset which really helped us that we’re here now,” concluded the India skipper.
Wolvaardt’s Calm Approach For The Game
Across the table, South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt projected an aura of calm, viewing the overwhelming home support for India not as intimidation, but as an opportunity. Her message to her team, which is playing its first-ever ODI final, was simple: embrace the occasion but stay composed.
“I think [with] the whole crowd behind India, probably a sold-out stadium, it’s going to be a very exciting opportunity. But at the same time, I think it puts a lot of pressure on them as well. They have the whole country behind them, and sort of expect them to win. I think it sort of plays in our favour, hopefully,” Wolvaardt added.
Having learned from two previous losses in T20 World Cup finals, Wolvaardt stressed the importance of staying present. “I’m really trying not to think about the result. I think in those finals… you automatically think about the trophy and think about winning, and sort of get excited. Now I’m just really trying to stay [in the] present… We’re going to need to slow down and take a big breath.”
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While Harmanpreet spoke of a team living its dream and ready to “give your 100%,” Wolvaardt looked at the bigger picture, believing a World Cup win could be transformative. “For us, I think it would just be really special for women’s cricket in the country. I can only imagine what something like a World Cup trophy would do back at home.”
As the final beckons, India brings its fire and emotion, hoping to convert a nation’s expectation into glory. South Africa carries its calm resolve, aiming to stay cool under pressure and finally cross the finish line. The stage is set for a clash not just of skills, but of contrasting philosophies.
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