India's captain Harmanpreet Kaur has explained why she kept the match ball after India's 52-run victory over South Africa in the Women's World Cup final on November 2. The decisive moment arrived when Harmanpreet took a running catch at extra cover off Deepti Sharma's bowling to dismiss Nadine de Klerk for 18 runs. Speaking after the triumph, Harmanpreet said it felt like destiny that the final wicket came to her after years of effort, prompting her to keep the ball rather than return it to the umpires. Deepti Sharma claimed 5/39 in 9.3 overs and was named Player of the Tournament for her 215 runs and 22 wickets. Shafali Verma, an injury replacement, earned Player of the Match honors with 87 off 78 balls and 2/36 in seven overs. India will next tour Australia for an all-format series starting February 15, featuring three T20Is, three ODIs, and one Test, concluding on March 6.
Captain explains decision to keep historic match ball
Harmanpreet Kaur shared that keeping the match ball was an unplanned decision driven by emotion. She revealed that she did not anticipate the final catch would come to her. After years of dedication and hard work, when the opportunity presented itself, she instinctively felt the ball should remain with her as a personal memento. The Indian captain described it as God's plan, emphasizing the special nature of being directly involved in the title-winning wicket. The catch at extra cover concluded the match, with Nadine de Klerk's dismissal sealing India's World Cup triumph. Deepti Sharma completed an outstanding tournament performance, finishing with impressive figures in the final and overall impressive statistics across the competition.
Source: Link