As the Indian women's team prepares for what is arguably the biggest match of their careers, the Women’s ODI World Cup final against South Africa, captain Harmanpreet Kaur has revealed her simple but powerful mantra for the squad. Facing the immense pressure of a World Cup decider, her message to the team is focused on maintaining composure, "Stay calm, stay focused, and keep chasing the small targets." This approach aims to manage the high stakes by breaking the game down into manageable segments.
Harmanpreet Kaur's mantra for the Women's World Cup final
The final is expected to be packed to capacity, ensuring the Women in Blue will be backed by the full, passionate force of a home crowd. While an occasion of this magnitude inherently comes with peak pressure, Harmanpreet views the roaring support as a net positive, stating that the crowd's energy has consistently been a powerful source of motivation for the entire team.
“Yeah, first of all, I think the crowd has been amazing, especially in Mumbai. It’s always a full house, and we’re getting so much motivation and support from them. No matter what the situation is, they’re always there, cheering for us,” Harmanpreet said at the pre-match press conference.
The 36-year-old further acknowledged the unique challenges of competing in a home World Cup. She recognised that the immense national anticipation and the atmosphere can be emotionally demanding for the players. Therefore, a core element of the team's preparation has been the emphasis on maintaining focus and balance, ensuring the players can manage the emotional toll and concentrate solely on their performance on the field.
“As for the home World Cup, there are always emotional ups and downs because it’s tough. But at the same time, we’ve been talking about how tomorrow’s match is the most important one. Keeping ourselves balanced and focused is the key. We’ve been having sessions on how to stay focused and balanced while also keeping ourselves relaxed, because this is the biggest stage and the biggest opportunity for us — playing at home, and that too in a final,” she further stated.
Harmanpreet also emphasised a crucial psychological aspect of preparation: soaking in and enjoying the moment. She reminded her team that the opportunity to play in a World Cup final, particularly one hosted on home soil, is a rare and potentially once-in-a-lifetime experience that few cricketers ever get to enjoy. By encouraging the players to embrace the grand occasion, she aims to turn the pressure of the moment into motivation.
Our focus is to enjoy it and to keep setting small targets: Harmanpreet
As India gears up for this ultimate showdown against South Africa, Harmanpreet's steady, balanced approach—which stresses calmness, focus on small targets, and appreciation for the moment—could be the precise factor the Women in Blue need. This composed mentality is vital for the team to create history and lift the Women's ODI World Cup trophy in front of their roaring home crowd.
“I think the most important thing is to enjoy this moment, because there’s nothing bigger than this for us as cricketers and for me as a captain. Our focus is to enjoy it and to keep setting small targets as a team rather than thinking about the bigger picture. When you achieve the small goals, the bigger ones will follow. So, focus on the small things, keep them in mind, and move forward,” Harmanpreet concluded.