New Delhi, November 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India captain Smriti Mandhana said the biggest change following the team’s 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup triumph on home soil has been the growing respect for women’s cricket and the recognition its players now enjoy across the country.
“Not a lot of things have changed in a way, but the respect women’s cricket has got in the last one year after the World Cup, and to see people really being involved a lot more, I think that’s something which has been a really pleasing change for me. To just see everyone kind of becoming a household name is a very pleasing sight,” Smriti told JioStar.
Recalling the day of the final against South Africa at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, Mandhana spoke about the emotional send-off the team received from fans outside their hotel despite heavy rain.
“A very good sight was that, even though it was raining, there were around 1,000 people outside our bus, outside the hotel, actually seeing us off. It was a very good sight for us, and it gave us a lot of positivity. Even in the rain, people were standing there, getting wet, but trying to give us all their best wishes,” she said.
Opener Shafali Verma, who was named Player of the Match in the World Cup final for her 87-run knock and two wickets, spoke about her partnership with Mandhana at the top of the order.
Shafali said the two had developed such a strong understanding after playing together since 2019 that they could often communicate through eye contact.
“I think in our partnership, it’s just that we know each other very well, and we have been playing together since 2019. Nowadays, we even communicate through eye contact. So, we know how much to talk to each other in the middle, and we know what the team needs. We keep telling each other that as well. I think that reflects in our partnership and is good for the team,” she said.
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