In one touching moment that epitomized respect and humility, Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur tried to touch the feet of ICC Chairman Jay Shah during the trophy presentation ceremony of the Women’s World Cup 2025.
The incident, which immediately went viral, drew widespread praise for both Harmanpreet’s gesture and Jay Shah’s graceful response.
A Moment of Respect Between Harman & Jay Shah That Melted Hearts
Emotions ran high on the stage as India’s victorious women’s cricket team lifted their maiden ODI World Cup trophy after defeating South Africa in the final.
Harmanpreet Kaur touched the feet of Jay Shah before receiving the world cup trophy 🏆
That’s called Indian culture,
it’s how we show respect, not submission🙏
In Bharat, touching someone’s feet is a symbol of sanskriti, not hierarchy.
Something the West might never fully grasp… pic.twitter.com/6aGj23gK5L— Emon Mukherjee (@EmonMukherjee21) November 3, 2025
Harmanpreet, who was at the forefront of India’s redemption journey after a shaky start to the tournament, was invited onto the podium to collect the trophy from ICC Chairman Jay Shah.
An overjoyed Kohli bent down to touch Shah’s feet, a traditional Indian way of giving respect to an elder. But Jay Shah immediately stopped her, asking her to get up and handed over the coveted trophy.
It was a moment of mutual appreciation between a player who had given it her all for the nation and an administrator who had championed reforms within Indian cricket. Social media was soon filled with praise, as fans termed it a “purely Indian moment of pride.”
Why The Gesture Meant More Than Just Respect
Jay Shah, former Secretary of the BCCI, has been credited with a number of important changes in Indian women’s cricket. His most impactful initiatives have included bringing in equal match fees for male and female cricketers, a historic shift toward gender parity in Indian sport.
This was, many felt, an act of acknowledgement that came straight from the heart. It showed just how much this moment personally meant to her, from facing criticism after three consecutive group-stage losses to leading India to its first-ever World Cup title.
How India’s Triumph Changed Everything
India’s win was nothing less than Bollywood-esque. Having lost to England in the group stages, the team regrouped and went on to unleash a dominating streak of form, beating Australia in the semi-final and South Africa in the final.
The leadership of Harmanpreet, coupled with all-round brilliance from Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma, powered India to a historic 52-run win in Navi Mumbai.
Speaking after the match, Harmanpreet reflected on the change in mindset: “After that defeat, everything changed. We started visualising, meditating and believing. This time, we knew we had to finish the job.”
“This Is Just The Beginning,” The Harmanpreet Says
Even with the emotional win, Harmanpreet insisted that her team’s journey is far from over. “We’ve been waiting for this moment, but it’s not the end it’s the beginning of something bigger,” she declared.
As the celebrations go on in every part of the country, the image of Jay Shah stopping Harmanpreet’s gracious act will be remembered as one moment when respect met respect on the golden day for India in women’s cricket.
