Coach Amol Muzumdar’s pep talk after England loss inspired India’s record chase, says Harmanpreet Kaur | Watch
PTC Web Desk: India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has revealed that a strong pep talk from head coach Amol Muzumdar after their earlier loss to England helped the team regroup and stay calm during the thrilling semi-final win against Australia in the Women’s ODI World Cup. India created history in Navi Mumbai by chasing down 339 runs , the highest successful chase in Women’s ODI history, to enter their third World Cup final.
Jemimah Rodrigues led the way with a superb 127 not out, while her 167-run partnership with Harmanpreet powered India to a five-wicket victory over the defending champions.
But the journey to this moment wasn’t smooth. In an earlier match, India had suffered a heartbreaking loss to England despite needing only 55 runs from 52 balls in a 289-run chase. That defeat led to criticism and self-reflection within the camp. Harmanpreet, while speaking to Star Sports after the semifinal, said Muzumdar’s emotional but honest talk after the England match changed the team’s mindset.
“I didn’t say anything after that game because he (Muzumdar) spoke — ‘You should’ve saved the match,’” Harmanpreet said, smiling as she recalled the moment. “Everyone took his words in the right spirit because we all know he speaks from the heart. After that, I spoke to the players as well. We wanted to make sure we learned from it — and you saw that in how we played today.”
How did #TeamIndia make a comeback after three losses in a row? Now we know the answer! ????
WATCH #CWC25 FINAL ???? #SAvIND | Sun, 2nd Nov, 2 PM! pic.twitter.com/Ou5TNVEhoA — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 30, 2025
Coach Muzumdar, who joined Harmanpreet during the interview, admitted that his words came from emotion but were meant to motivate the team. “We just had a little chat after that match,” he said. “Yes, I did say a few things, but it was all in good spirit.”
India made sure not to repeat their mistakes. Jemimah’s calm century, Harmanpreet’s steady 89, and valuable cameos from Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, and Amanjot Kaur ensured India crossed the finish line comfortably. Amanjot sealed the win with a boundary off Sophie Molineux, sparking huge celebrations at the Dr DY Patil Stadium.
India will now take on South Africa in the final on November 2, also in Navi Mumbai.
- With inputs from agencies
