Harmanpreet’s heroes arrive in Delhi for felicitation

The golden girls of Indian cricket, fresh from scripting a historic triumph on the world stage, landed in the national capital on Tuesday evening to a hero’s welcome ahead of their meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.

Led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian women’s cricket team returned home as world champions after clinching their maiden 50-over World Cup title with a memorable 52-run victory over South Africa in the final in Navi Mumbai, a moment that will forever be etched in the country’s sporting history.

As the team arrived at the Taj Palace Hotel, the atmosphere was festive. Rose petals rained down on the players and support staff, who were greeted with applause and cheers. Inside the hotel lobby, the celebrations continued as Jemimah Rodrigues, Radha Yadav and Sneh Rana broke into a joyful dance to the beats of the dhol, capturing the spirit of a nation celebrating its champions.

Earlier in Mumbai, the team had received a warm send-off from fans at the airport, where hundreds gathered to applaud their achievements. The squad flew to Delhi aboard a special Star Air charter flight (S5-8328), operated by the Bengaluru-based airline that managed several team flights during the recently concluded World Cup, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

At Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, the team arrived through the General Aviation Terminal (GA), where only media personnel were permitted due to strict security measures. The Delhi Police had ramped up security around the airport and hotel, with checks conducted on the team bus and nearby routes as part of precautionary protocols.

The players, accompanied by head coach Amol Muzumdar, are scheduled to meet Prime Minister Modi at his official residence on Wednesday evening, where he will felicitate them for their remarkable achievement. The event will celebrate not just a sporting milestone but also a symbol of empowerment and perseverance for women across the country.

After the ceremony, the players will disperse to their respective hometowns to celebrate with their families. Only Shafali Verma will resume cricketing duties immediately, as she is set to lead the North Zone side in the upcoming Inter-Zonal T20 tournament in Nagaland.

India’s World Cup win marked a watershed moment for women’s cricket, the culmination of years of hard work, belief, and resilience that transformed dreams into a golden reality.