New Delhi: Can the heartbreak of a nervous loss pave the way for a groundbreaking new era for women’s cricket?
It’s a question that will find its answer in the next few months as Mithali Raj and Co. cope with the unprecedented spotlight that followed their fairytale World Cup campaign, which could have been perfect but for the loss of nerves against England in the final.
As one looks back at the World Cup, it was not about India finishing second best for the second time at a global event. It was way beyond that and much more.
Not just because of the extent of traction it received on social and mainstream media but also for the manner in which it got the previously indifferent country involved. It was the most widely watched finale in the history of women’s game. In fact, India’s campaign changed perception of sports lovers during the past one month.
Defeat in a professional sport is heartbreaking but the manner in which everyone was ready to look at the bigger picture beyond the nine-run loss was indeed heartwarming.
It wasn’t the case of one loss being the summary of an entire campaign. The cricket crazy nation was ready to celebrate the journey rather than the destination. That is what makes this Indian team led by Mithali Raj a beacon of hope for women’s game in the country.
For an Ananya in Jamshedpur or an Amrita in Chandigarh, they will no longer aspire to become the next Sachin Tendulkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni or Virat Kohli. They have Harmanpreet Kaur, Veda Krishnamurthy or Shikha Pandey to emulate even as the iconic pair of Mithali and Jhulan Goswami walks into their cricketing sunset in the next couple of years.
The sixes that Harmanpreet hit were not about entertainment but a statement of intent as what one can be expected from Indian women in days to come. The swagger with which Veda walks to the crease makes one happy as well as proud.
The women were ready to show that they don’t play global competition to be also-rans, something that was the bane of women’s cricket — thanks to administrative apathy for the longest time.
Mithali, in her younger days, never had a Harmanpreet like player around, which would have given her a chance to express herself more freely. But Harmanpreet has a Veda around her, who can also hit sixes at will.
That is the change that has come about in this team. India now have a couple of powerful, strongly built players — something the team never had in four decades even though old timers would refer to Shanta Rangaswamy.
Mithali is set to be presented with a BMW, the likes of Jhulan, Harman are financially well off playing the game. They have built houses, drive cars and are able to lead a good life.
It’s there for all to see and perhaps strong feelers to the parents of 10-15 year olds that if their kids possess talent, what all can be the incentives. However, a women’s IPL, like the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia, may still be a long shot as far as the BCCI is concerned.
Mithali named captain of ICC WWC 2017 team
India skipper Mithali Raj was Monday chosen as the captain of the ICC Women’s World Cup (WWC) 2017 team by the International Cricket Council.
The 34-year-old Indian was selected as captain after she led India to the final of the just-concluded WWC. India lost to England by nine runs in one of the most thrilling finals at the Lord’s.
Mithali led by example, scoring 409 runs during the 30-day tournament. She was at her best in a virtual quarterfinal against New Zealand in Derby when she scored 109 to steer her side into the semifinals with a 186-run victory.
Besides Mithali, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma were the other two Indians included in the ICC’s team.
The side includes four players from England – player of the tournament Tamsin Beaumont, player of the final Anya Shrubsole, wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor and left-arm spinner Alex Hartley, three from South Africa that included opener Laura Wolvaardt and bowlers Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk, and Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry. England’s Natalie Sciver, who scored 369 runs and took seven wickets, was chosen as the 12th player.
Mithali, Taylor and Shrubsole have been picked in the Team of the Tournament for the second time in their careers. Mithali and Taylor were selected in the Team of the WWC 2009 while Shrubsole was named in the Team of the ICC WWC 2013.
Tributes galore
The title slipped out of their grasp but the Indian women’s cricket team earned plaudits aplenty for their gritty World Cup campaign with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the iconic Sachin Tendulkar leading the tributes.
Narendra Modi: Our women cricketers gave their best. They have shown remarkable tenacity & skill through the World Cup. Proud of the team! @BCCIWomen
Sachin Tendulkar: Feel for all of you, #WomenInBlue! You were good throughout but sometimes it is not meant to be. Congrats England on winning #WWC17Final!
MC Mary Kom: My SALUTE to our Indian Women’s Cricket team and supporting teams for an excellent performance #WomenInBlue #WWC17
Sakshi Malik: No matter a game won or lost but you win billions of hearts !! You made all of us proud
Ravi Shastri: Chin up girls. You have done the country proud. Well done #TeamIndia
Virender Sehwag: Super proud of the girls. Tough luck but women’s cricket in India has truly arrived. Thank you girls. Salute your spirit
VVS Laxman: To @M_Raj03 & every member of the @BCCI Women team,you may have lost the finals but you won the hearts of the entire country??Proud of u all????
Bishan Singh Bedi: All said/done let’s salute @M_Raj03’s team fr making Ind aware o Women Power n International Crkt-hold yur chin up girls-V r proud o U all!!
Gagan Narang: Despite the outcome well done @BCCIWomen for the dream run and exceptional performances #WWCFinal17 #INDvsEng Good Luck for the future????
Ravichandran Ashwin: @BCCIWomen you girls were amazing and never gave up till the end. This I am sure will change the landscape of women’s cricket
Gautam Gambhir: You made us dream, You made us believe, We’re proud of all you girls! Real honor to hve watched u play! #WWC17Final #WomenInBlue
Mohammed Kaif: Congrats England but so proud of our girls for winning a billion hearts. This will be a defining moment in women’s cricket
Windfall for eves
Honour for Kaur: Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh has offered Harmanpreet Kaur the DSP’s position in Punjab Police, saying he wants to ‘correct a wrong’ done to her in the past. Having already announced a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh for the batter, the CM offered her a job after speaking to her father Harmandar Singh in Moga.
Award from MP Govt: The Madhya Pradesh government has announced Rs 50 lakh award for the Indian women’s cricket team. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that the award will be given to the team at a grand ceremony.
Grand felicitation planned: The BCCI is planning a grand felicitation for the Indian women’s cricket team. The team is scheduled to return home in batches from Wednesday onwards. The date and venue for the felicitation has not been finalised yet and will be done after checking the availability of the players. At the ceremony, the players will be presented with cheques of Rs 50 lakh each while the support staff will receive will Rs 25 lakh each, as announced by the BCCI before the final. Efforts are also on for a players’ interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
