Harmanpreet Kaur confirmed in a chat with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that she recreated Sunil Gavaskar’s famous act from the 1983 World Cup final victory after the Indian women’s cricket team won the Women’s Cricket World Cup for the first time in 2025 on Sunday (November 2) at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai by beating South Africa in the final.
For those unversed in a tale Gavaskar has spoken about in the past, he had kept the match ball of India’s maiden Cricket World Cup triumph with him. Widely known among the greatest male cricketers, he stated that he took the ball with him as soon as the match finished at Lord’s after India’s incredible win over West Indies and got the signatures of all players in the team.
PM Modi Asks Harmanpreet Kaur Over Special Gesture
In his meeting with the Indian players, PM Modi asked Harmanpreet about her act of keeping the ball. She revealed it was not pre-planned, but what she felt after taking the catch that completed India’s victory.
“I will have it with me. No, sir. It was God’s plan. It was not like I will get the last ball. But, I got that ball. After so many years of hard work, after so many years of waiting, now I have it. I still have it in my bag,” said the Indain captain.
Sunil Gavsakar Recalls Gesture
On seeing Harmanpreet’s gesture, Gavaskar reacted and said he hopes she also gets it signed by all others players in the team like he did.
“Did you see what Harmanpreet did when she took that catch? She put the ball in her pocket, just like somebody did in 1983. I hope she takes autographs of all her teammates, maybe even the South Africans, because that will be a memento she’ll cherish for life,” said Gavaskar in an interaction with India Today.