London: Twelve years when Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami played in the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup, nobody was watching them on television. However, this time around when India enter the Lord’s arena here Sunday to face hosts England in the summit clash, the skipper is sure that there will be many glued to the TV sets.
“May be not the way they do in a men’s game, but I am sure that we will have some TV viewership,” Mithali said here Saturday. “It is in this context, that we need to win… a victory will open a plethora of possibilities for women’s cricket in India. After all, you can only advance in any form of sport if you win on a consistent basis,” she added in a matter of fact tone.
It has been a topsy-turvy ride for India in this edition of the World Cup. After four consecutive wins, they suffered two reverses against South Africa and Australia. Just when it seemed that they were down and out, they rose like a phoenix out of the ashes to trounce New Zealand in what was a virtual knockout game. And then riding on Harmanpreet Kaur’s brilliance, they upstaged defending champions Australia to seal a final berth. They now just have to keep the same momentum going.
Strange as it may seem, suddenly women’s cricket, more so the games India have played, have been sold out ones. Lord’s also do not have a single seat left for Sunday with all the 26,543 tickets being picked up and even the ICC officials are stating that it has been possible due to the presence of India in the final.
“This is the time for the youngsters to turn into superstars of the future,” stated Mithali, who will be hanging up her bat once the World Cup is over. “They have to carry the game forward and the only way it can be done is by winning tomorrow (Sunday). No fan likes his/her side to lose, more so the Indian fans. For them we have to win.”
But then winning won’t be easy, but the Indians are up for the challenge. “The good thing about us have been the way people have stood up according to the situation, we have always found the right player at the right moment… be it me, or Mithali didi or Veda (Krishnamurthy),” stated last match’s woman of the match Harmanpreet Kaur.
India will be going into the game with the same XI who played against Australia. There is no clarity on the England side who have regrouped well after losing the tournament opener to India.
Captain Heather Knight said her side has more to offer in the tournament and might just hit the peak in the summit clash.
“We keep finding ways to win at the moment, even though we haven’t quite put the perfect performance together. There’s still one game to go and if we put a perfect performance in then, I’ll be a very happy captain,” Knight said.