India’s Women’s Cricket Team stands at a pivotal moment, poised for their third appearance in a World Cup final, after facing heartbreaking defeats in 2005 and 2017. All eyes will be on Harmanpreet Kaur and her squad this Sunday as they gear up to challenge a strong South African side at the DY Patil Stadium, hoping to finally clinch the coveted title.
The journey to a World Cup final for India first began in 2005 under the astute captaincy of Mithali Raj. This marked a significant milestone for women’s cricket in the nation. However, their aspirations were cut short in Centurion by a formidable Australian team, largely due to Karen Rolton’s unbeaten century that propelled Australia to a decisive 98-run victory.
Fast forward twelve years to the 2017 World Cup final at Lord’s, where India staged a remarkable comeback. Driven by Captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s breathtaking 171 in the semifinal against Australia and Punam Raut’s gritty 86 in the final, the team came incredibly close, only to fall agonizingly short by nine runs against England in a dramatic showdown.
The pursuit of a major title continued in 2020 with the T20 World Cup final held at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. A record-setting crowd of 86,000 fans watched as Alyssa Healy’s explosive 75 runs off just 39 balls led Australia to an 85-run triumph over India, adding another chapter of near-misses.
Reflecting on these experiences, particularly the 2017 ODI World Cup where India finished as runners-up, Captain Harmanpreet Kaur articulated her hopes for the sport. She noted a tangible growth in women’s cricket following that final, observing a surge in young girls taking up the game across India.
Kaur expressed a strong belief that a victory in the upcoming final would act as a powerful catalyst for even greater transformation. “I’m confident that when we win this final, we will witness many more positive changes and cricket will continue to flourish, not just on the international stage but also within our domestic structures,” she affirmed. “We are eagerly looking forward to that moment when women’s cricket truly commands more serious attention and a wider viewership.”
Despite their third foray into an ODI World Cup final, India faces a tough challenge. They have unfortunately lost all three of their recent encounters against the Proteas since 2017, including a tight three-wicket defeat during the league stage at Visakhapatnam. The stage is perfectly set for a captivating final as India attempts to rewrite its World Cup narrative.