Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaurfeels that the team is ready to take on the challenge of the World Cup final. India will take on South Africa in the all-important summit clash of the Women's World Cup 2025 in Navi Mumbai on Sunday, November 2.
Harmanpreet also reflected on the importance of enjoying the moment and focusing on achieving minor goals rather than fixating on executing bigger ones and getting ahead of themselves.
"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," stated Harmanpreet, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Harmanpreet also touched upon the pain of losing the final of the same tournament in 2005 and 2017. She underlined the importance of gelling together as a unit on the big day.
"We know pretty well how it feels after losing [a World Cup final]. We're really looking forward to the feeling of winning a final. Hopefully, it's going to be a special day for us tomorrow. We've worked really hard, and now it's about getting everything together tomorrow," she added.
The batting all-rounder opened up on the environment in and around the dressing room. She admitted that the team had already been rehearsing their plans for the mega event since the past couple of years.
"The entire team is charged up, we're there for each other and praying for each other. That shows how close this team is and how ready we are for this match. Now it's only about giving your best, all the strategies and plans have been taking shape for the last two years. We had been planning for a home World Cup, what kind of conditions we'd get, so know it's only about giving your 100%," concluded Harmanpreet.
India qualified for the semi-final of the competition by earning seven points from as many matches. They scripted history in the semi-final by getting the better of Australia in what was a record run-chase in women's ODIs.
South Africa have already met India in the league phase, when the result had gone in the favour of the Laura Wolvaardt-led unit, as they won by three wickets with seven balls to spare. The Women in Blue will be eager to settle the score.
