With only 50 days to go ahead of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, former cricketer & 2011 WC player of the tournament Yuvraj Singh gave an inspiring pep talk to Harmanpreet Kaur & Co. The cricket expert expressed optimism in the team's chances of lifting the first silverware in front of home crowds.
Speaking about the special experience of playing in a home World Cup, Yuvraj stated that while the magnitude of the occasion can sometimes be a daunting experience, the key to playing well lies in trusting the process.
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“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. These moments don't come often in your life, I believe," Yuvraj said at the '50 days to go' event held in Mumbai.
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“I feel it's a great opportunity to create history. But that doesn't mean that from the start, you think you're winning it. You have to experience the whole enigma of it. You have to feel that you put in the process, and the results will come."
Notably, India has played two Women's WC finals in 2005 & 2017 - under Mithali Raj's leadership, but on both occasions, they have faltered to lift the elusive trophy. The 2017 defeat at the hands of England at Lord's was especially a bitter pill to swallow, as India, for the majority of the game, were ahead of the game, only to botch the run chase in the final moments. Yuvraj shed light on the two finals India have played, and told the girls to enjoy the moment, rather than thinking too far ahead.
“I think [the women's team] lost a couple of finals. We've been there. And you must enjoy this moment. Be in the moment rather than thinking ahead.
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"We were supporting the boys. Now, it's time to support the girls.”
Have to embrace the pressure that the home World Cup brings: Yuvraj Singh
The former all-rounder also spoke about how the pressure of a home WC can sometimes amount to heightened expectations from fans. However, he said to embrace the moment and told Harman & Co. to believe in themselves to win from any position.
“The fans are always wanting fours and sixes, or like wickets. That's the game. They come to watch. They want entertainment. They want to be entertained," he added.
"But the point is that if you want to win the World Cup, you have to be in the situation where you were at, I think. There will be times where they're going to feel that pressure.”
“There will be times when things are not going to go well. And that's the time when the experience, the self-belief, has to take over. The belief that I can be the player in this moment. I think every time you walk in the game, you have to believe that.”
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The Women's ODI World Cup 2025 will kick off on September 30, with hosts India taking on Sri Lanka in Bengaluru. Australia is the defending champion of the showpiece event.
