India’s World Cup run timed perfectly Mithali, Jhulan gear up for what could be their last chance
ON A HIGH With a record television viewership, the women cricketers are creating their own legacy
While inconsistency might be India’s burden, a habit of performing — and upsetting — on the big stage, is fast becoming their trademark. England know full well the perils of underestimating India. When a newly professional England surprisingly lost the sole Test to India at Wormsley three years ago, they never recovered.
That loss paved the way for the eventual resignation of England’s talismanic captain Charlotte Edwards, and Raj, who surpassed Edwards’ record for the highest ODI runs, has a chance to go one better once more.
With a record television audience of more than 50 million in the group stages and a sell-out final at Lord’s, India’s women cricketers are creating their own legacy.
However, just as former England captain Nasser Hussain quipped, on seeing pictures of Mithali Raj reading his autobiography before the Australia game, that there was “not much in that book about how to win a World Cup semi”, it is to India’s men that Raj might look for inspiration.
When the men won the World Cup in 1983 and the World T20 in 2007, both victories marked a turning point. The 1983 win saw the start of a financial investment into the sport no country has matched since, while the 2007 victory led to the launch of the world’s most successful domestic tournament — the IPL.
Following Thursday’s victory, Raj spoke of the impact that the Big Bash League has had on Harmanpreet. If India win, their next hero might not need look so far afield, for a true turning point could, and should, pave the way for a women’s
IPL, in India’s own backyard. Watch this space.
When India face England in the final at Lord’s on Sunday, it could be a special moment for two of India’s legendary women cricketers, Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami.
For this could be the last opportunity for the two 34-yearolds to win the Women’s World Cup title that has so far been dominated by Australia and England with New Zealand being the only one to break the dominance with a win in 2000.
While Mithali is the top rungetter with 6173 runs in women’s One-day Internationals, Jhulan is the top wicket-taker with 192 scalps. They, however, have the biggest prize missing from their cabinets.
Jhulan has picked up seven wickets in eight matches so far with her gentle pace, her experience has come in handy. She got two crucial wickets against Australia in the semifinal.
In the semifinal, she removed opposition captain Meg Lanning with a beautiful delivery moved away. The wicket dented Aussie hopes.
Mithali, however, has been on song with three fifties and a hundred. Thata aprt she has a couple of good knocks that couldn’t materialise into half-centuries. “It’s an opportunity for the Indian team to make it big in India,” Raj, appearing in her second World Cup final 12 years after her first, told ESPNCricinfo.
“Everybody will be glued to the television on Sunday,” added Raj, who is the second highest run-getter in this edition.
“If we can pull it off, there will be nothing like it. It will help the future of women’s cricket.”
India’s 98-run defeat by Australia in the 2005 final at Centurion, South Africa, was not even broadcast. The good thing is that if and when they leave, there are others ready to take over. This Indian team hasn’t been over-reliant on them and there have been contribution from others like Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Punam Raut, Veda Krishnamurthy Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Ekta Bisht, Shikha Pandey and Deepti Sharma.
Playing England in their own country is going to be a challenge but this unit is up for it, especially after the win over Australia. For me and
Jhulan it is special because we are the only players from 2005 still with the team.