Indian women's cricket stands on the brink of a landmark moment, reminiscent of the men's historic 1983 triumph, with the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side determined to lift its first ICC trophy when it faces a formidable South Africa in the Women's World Cup final here on Sunday.
This edition of the World Cup will have a new champion between third-time finalists India and first-time finalists South Africa, who are both formidable teams.
India’s title triumph could take women's cricket in the country to a new high, inspiring a new generation of young girls to take up the sport. But the hosts will need to get their act together, considering that they have fumbled in the summit clash on many occasions.
India’s nine-run loss to England in the 2017 ODI World Cup final still revives painful memories. It was followed by a narrow five-run defeat to Australia in the 2023 T20 World Cup semifinal and another heart-breaking loss to the same adversaries in the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medal match. So for India, the battle is no longer about proving skill or form, but about crossing the elusive final hurdle that has so often tripped them.
After a faltering start which saw them lose three matches on the trot, India revived their home campaign with compelling victories over former champions New Zealand and Australia, rediscovering their spark when it mattered the most.
India will have to regroup quickly after the high-voltage chase against Australia. Their new anchor at No. 3, Jemimah Rodrigues, has emerged as a force to reckon with, but her heroics have now raised the stature of women’s cricket in India. It was a game in which India expected their best batter, Smriti Mandhana (385 runs), to fire but found a hero in Jemimah.
On a flat DY Patil Stadium surface, known for its high scores and evening dew, another run-fest could be on the cards, testing India’s fielding and bowling discipline. Though India overcame Australia, the victory was far from flawless. Seamers Kranti Gaud and Renuka Singh Thakur struggled for rhythm and even skipper Harmanpreet dropped a regulation catch.
On such batting-friendly tracks, there is not much bowlers can do, but Deepti Sharma — the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 17 scalps — will once again be key to India’s success. South Africa, on the other hand, will not mind the “underdog” tag. They’ve shown remarkable resilience throughout the tournament, from being bowled out for 69 against England in Guwahati to later thrashing the same team at the same venue to recovering from a 97 all-out against Australia in Indore.
Veteran Marizanne Kapp (204 runs, 12 wickets), Nadine de Klerk (190 runs, 8 wickets), Tazmin Brits (212 runs), Chloe Tryon (167 runs, 5 wickets) and skipper Laura Wolvaardt (470 runs) have all delivered impressive performances. As the tournament has progressed, Wolvaardt’s consistency and leadership have taken centre stage, and her partnership with Brits at the top presents a formidable challenge for Indian bowlers. Left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba (12 wickets) will test India’s right-hand-heavy batting order, while South Africa's collective perseverance could prove decisive in a high-pressure final.
The match will begin at 3:00 pm IST.
Also read: India beat Australia, storm into World Cup final
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