As the ICC Women’s World Cup final approaches, featuring India against South Africa, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice President, Rajeev Shukla, has celebrated the remarkable ascent of women’s cricket in India. He pointed to the overwhelming fan enthusiasm and the team’s exceptional performance throughout the tournament as key drivers of this growth.
Shukla highlighted the packed stadiums during the semi-final and the immense demand for tickets for the championship match, underscoring a significant shift in public interest. ‘Women’s cricket’s popularity is rising,’ he stated, noting that a few years ago, the sport didn’t receive widespread attention, and many states lacked female players. The encouraging change sees parents now actively supporting their daughters’ aspirations in cricket.
He lauded the Indian team’s resilience, especially their semi-final victory over Australia, where they successfully chased the highest-ever total in a women’s ODI. This achievement, he believes, has significantly boosted the profile and progress of women’s cricket in the nation.
Looking ahead to the final against South Africa, Shukla expressed strong confidence in India’s ability to secure the World Cup title. ‘I am confident that we will be the World Cup champions,’ he declared, envisioning this victory elevating Indian women’s cricket to global prominence. He added that the BCCI has been consistently working to foster the sport since bringing women’s cricket under its umbrella.
The semi-final saw Australia post a formidable 338 runs, with notable contributions from Phoebe Litchfield (119) and Ellyse Perry (77), followed by Ash Gardner’s quickfire 63. India’s bowlers, including Shree Charani and Deepti Sharma, took two wickets each. During the chase, despite losing early wickets, Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur anchored the innings. Crucial cameos from Richa Ghosh and Amanjot Kaur, alongside Jemimah’s stellar performance, secured India’s victory with five wickets to spare, earning her the ‘Player of the Match’ award and a place in the final.
