Harmanpreet Kaur, captain of the Indian women's cricket team, guided her nation to its maiden World Cup victory, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final on Sunday in Navi Mumbai. The 36-year-old captain, who began her cricket career with her father's enormous bat as a child, fulfilled a lifetime dream of winning a World Cup title.

Harmanpreet reflected on her early cricket experiences, including playing with a modified bat from her father's kit. She recalls watching cricket matches on TV without understanding anything about women's cricket at the time.

"Ever since, as a kid, I started getting a sense of what likes and dislikes are, I've always seen a bat in my hand. I still remember we used to play with a bat from my dad's kit bag. The bat was very big. One day, my dad cut an old bat of his for me. We used to play with it. Whenever we used to watch a match on TV, or watch India play, or watch the World Cup, I used to think, I need an opportunity like this. At that time, I didn't even know about women's cricket," Harmanpreet said in a video released by the BCCI.

"I was dreaming. When will I wear this blue jersey? So I think this means a lot to me, a young girl who didn't know about women's cricket but still dreamed that one day, I would bring that change to our country. And I think it all shows that you should never stop dreaming. You never know where your destiny will take you. You never think, When will it happen? How will it happen?. You only think, This will happen," she expressed.

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The captain stressed the emotional value of the feat, describing it as a childhood dream come true.

“Personally, it's a very emotional moment. Because it was my dream since childhood. Ever since I started playing, it has been my dream to win the World Cup one day. If I get an opportunity to lead my team, I don't want to miss this opportunity. So, I said all these things from the bottom of my heart. And God heard everything one by one. It's like magic. I don't understand how come suddenly everything is falling in place. Everything kept happening one by one. Finally, we are world champions. I am feeling very relaxed, very humble, and so grateful to God for giving us this team, which we have been dreaming of for so many years, and we are living this moment,” she stated.

Harmanpreet also talked about the support from the BCCI, the crowd, and the entire country.

"Everybody was waiting for this moment. And I think it's because of everyone's blessings and prayers that we were able to cross that line. I don't think we were alone playing in the stadium. Everybody, the entire stadium, and people who were watching us on TV—everybody came together to win this. Because it wasn't possible alone,” she said.

Her message to aspiring cricketers remained simple yet powerful.

"Never stop dreaming. You never know where your destiny will take you,” Harmanpreet Kaur signed off.