‘From champions to NAMO’: Indian women’s cricket team’s special gift for PM Modi

The gesture came during the team’s visit to the Prime Minister’s residence on Lok Kalyan Marg, days after India’s stunning triumph at the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup.

The team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, said the jersey was a token of gratitude for the Prime Minister’s unwavering support through their highs and lows.

“We remembered how he encouraged us even in 2017 when we lost the final. This time, we wanted to return not just as winners, but with something that said thank you,” Harmanpreet said.

The sky-blue jersey, autographed by the entire squad, symbolized the team’s unity and their appreciation of Modi’s message of perseverance.

As they handed it to him, the Prime Minister smiled and admired the word ‘NAMO’, not just as his moniker, but as a symbol of Nation and Motivation, players later said.

Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana called it a proud moment: “It wasn’t just a jersey. It was our way of telling him his words made a difference. We kept thinking of his 2017 message- ‘Never stop believing in yourself.’”

The meeting turned into a warm exchange of memories.

The Prime Minister congratulated the players for their comeback after early defeats and the criticism they faced online.

He also lauded Amanjot Kaur’s match-turning catch and Deepti Sharma’s all-round performance, calling the team’s journey a story of resilience.

PM Modi urged the players to carry forward the ‘Fit India’ movement, inspiring young girls across the country to stay active and chase their dreams.

“You’ve given India a reason to cheer and a message to believe,” he said, holding up the signed ‘NAMO’ jersey with pride.

As cameras flashed, the jersey became more than a gift. It stood as a reminder of how far Indian women’s cricket have come, and how much further they are ready to go.