The World Cup for the Women of India was nothing less than a roller-coaster ride. The viewpoint of the cricket world regarding the female Indian cricket team has changed completely. The Indian squad will have to bear the brunt of the expectations of being the world champions in the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, for the team management, this series is a vital transitional phase to get the T20 setup eventually.
Indian women ODI WC winning: expectations high for the next phase
The Indian women’s ODI World Cup campaign was launched with wins against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in their first two matches. However, the positive run of India was messed up soon as they lost three meetings with South Africa, Australia, and England in a row. Yet, the very Indian team that was once demoralized was now back to full strength after an important defeat of New Zealand.
The match against Bangladesh was stopped due to rain while India was chasing the target but the point shared from that game helped them qualify for the Knockout stage. And that was the turning point for the Indian women.
First, they edged out Australia in the semi-final and made their way to the final. In the final, they won the title after a nail-biting contest with South Africa. Jemimah Rodrigues was the hero of the semi-final while Shafali Verma had the final and delivered a match-winning performance. Shafali was even named the ICC Women’s Player of the month for November.
The shine is more than the Glory
After the successful ODI World Cup campaign, the Indian women’s cricket team did not play any international matches. The time saw media professionals bringing forth Indian team players for different reasons. The growing fame opened up a whole new world of opportunities for some, and Smriti Mandhana was one of the players attracting huge media attention, albeit in the form of controversies.
The rollercoaster ride of the victory and the subsequent turmoil has brought the Indian women’s cricket team to its roots. The team is ready for international competition again as the 5-match T20I series against Sri Lanka is about to begin on December 21.
The Indian team will have the weight of pressures upon them to win again in the T20I format, however, at the same time, this series will also fulfill a greater aim. It will be a major factor of the team to gain their confidence and preparation for the T20 World Cup to be held in the next year in England and Wales.
The 2023 World Cup reset for women in India
India will be starting their journey with the World Cup core players intact. A few fresh faces are also waiting to be introduced to the international stage while the main players are still there.
The focus will be on two remarkable young talents – wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini and left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma. Both were given a national call-up after proving their mettle in the domestic arena.
Kamalini has had some exposure to WPL while Vaishnavi’s continuous performances in domestic cricket have opened the gates to international cricket for her. The coming of Vaishnavi into international cricket from the domestic circuit after being unsold at the Women’s Premier League auction is already a captivating storyline for the followers.
Experienced stars, promising newcomers: Blend of experience and youth
After her brilliance in the crucial knockout stage of the ODI World Cup, Harmanpreet Kaur will remain the captain of the team. For the vice-captain, the series presents an avenue to once again acknowledge her worth to the world. After being the center of social media trends for all sorts of non-cricketing reasons, it’s time for Smriti Mandhana to be the reliable batter that the team looks to for support.
The World Cup stars, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Shafali Verma, and Jemimah Rodrigues, will enjoy a pleasant transition to the T20I after their delightful performance in the ODI World Cup. Verma, who had a shining presence in the ODI World Cup as well as the preceding T20I series, is now ready for the T20 World Cup full of confidence and will be one of India’s most powerful possessions.
Just as the squad of key players including Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, and captain Harmanpreet Kaur are under huge expectations,
Experienced Renuka Singh Thakur is making a comeback for the T20 team after missing the last T20I series against England.
For team management, this series will be testing times for players and new strategies will be tried too. They will focus on the integration of new talent into the playing eleven as a way of solidifying the squad’s depth and versatility. Achieving the perfect blend of experience and the youth will be the key to establishing core team balance and keeping the winning momentum going.
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