Mumbai, August 11: With just 50 days left until the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 kicks off in India, cricket icons Yuvraj Singh and Mithali Raj delivered
powerful messages of belief, resilience, and inspiration at a special countdown event in Mumbai.
The milestone occasion, marked by the launch of the official Trophy Tour, brought together a star-studded panel featuring Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Jemimah Rodrigues, alongside International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO Sanjog Gupta. The event was inaugurated by ICC Chairman Jay Shah, who hailed the tournament as a defining moment for the women's game.
Yuvraj's Call for Focus and Self-Belief
2011 Men's Cricket World Cup Player of the Tournament, Yuvraj Singh, reflected on the unique experience of playing a World Cup at home. While acknowledging the excitement of such an occasion, he stressed the importance of sticking to processes over chasing outcomes.
"I think the 50-over World Cup is the World Cup. It's happening in India, and I think everybody should be really excited about it," Yuvraj said. "These moments don't come often. It's a great opportunity to create history, but you have to live in the moment and trust the process. "
Drawing from his own journey, Yuvraj cautioned about the pressures of home expectations and urged the Women in Blue to embrace challenges.
"Fans want entertainment-fours, sixes, wickets-but winning a World Cup comes from self-belief in the toughest moments. Every time you step on the field, you have to believe you can be that player in that moment. "
Mithali Reflects on the Journey of Women's Cricket
Former India skipper Mithali Raj shared a heartfelt perspective on the evolution of women's cricket, from the days of limited exposure to the current era of televised matches and packed stadiums.
"Coming under BCCI in 2006 was a huge turning point, as was joining ICC events. I remember my father watching me on TV for the first time in the 2009 T20 World Cup. The visibility inspired me to continue despite injury struggles," Mithali recalled.
She also reminisced about the 2017 Women's World Cup, where India reached the final, noting how mainstream promotion of the tournament signaled a new chapter for women's cricket. "It's not one moment-it's been a journey. I'm proud to have been a part of it," the legendary batter added further.
Trophy Tour to Spark Nationwide Excitement
The ICC Trophy Tour, launched at the event, will visit all host cities-along with Delhi and Mumbai-making stops at iconic landmarks and engaging with schools through a special legacy programme. Fans can follow its journey via the dedicated Instagram channel @icctrophytour.
A Historic Tournament Ahead
The ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, featuring Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka, will be played in a round-robin format from September 30 to October 26 across India and Sri Lanka. India will face Sri Lanka in the tournament opener at Bengaluru.
With cricket legends rallying behind them and the spotlight firmly on home soil, the Women in Blue carry the hopes of millions-ready to write the next chapter in Indian cricket history.
