India co-hosted the 2022 Women’s Cricket World Cup alongside Sri Lanka, marking a significant moment in the nation’s cricketing history. The tournament took place during the monsoon season, leading to numerous rain-affected matches that impacted the progression of teams like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand. Despite these challenges, India emerged victorious, defeating South Africa in the final, which was held at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
The tournament played out in cities across India, from Guwahati to Indore to Visakhapatnam. Sadly, the weather made a huge impact on the competition! Five of the eleven games scheduled that day were washed out. This reality limited the possibility for surprises to breathe. Too often as a result, the tournament lacked the excitement, surprise, and peril woven into the fabric of World Cups.
Shafali Verma was one of the shining stars of the Indian team. At only 21 years of age, she possessed a brilliant skillset that defined her style of play. Verma’s journey to cricket stardom has been inspiring. She had to masquerade as a boy during her childhood to secure enrollment in a cricket academy, highlighting her determination to pursue the sport despite societal barriers.
Most memorable of all, South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt put on a legendary performance in the Final, scoring 169 runs to help her side secure the Championship over England. South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp produced one of the great women’s World Cup bowling efforts, with five for 20. Her brilliant performance snatched South Africa a record 8-wicket victory against England’s in Guwahati.
To give India the best chance to succeed, the team was guided through their matches by cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, whose priceless knowledge proved crucial. The all-time leading run-scorer in Test cricket history shared his wisdom at a pre-match lecture. He electrified the crowd as he emerged from the outfield carrying the trophy itself. The fans celebrated in jubilation, their excitement for the championship game building to a crescendo.
Organizing the tournament did not come without significant challenges such as heavy rains forcing interruptions to the schedule. India bounced back and deservedly lifted their maiden World Cup trophy in the 50-overs format. Tens of thousands of exuberant fans cheered long and loud for their team. Deepti Sharma confirmed the win by taking the winning wicket against South Africa to seal the victory.
The victory parade after India’s win showed what a cricket-crazy country India is. Thousands of supporters came out to celebrate, requiring police protection and barricades to keep the enthusiastic crowds safe.
Prakash Wakankar commented on the significance of cricket in India, stating, “This is India. It takes very little to get emotions up in a good way or a bad way and that’s exactly what’s happened.” He further elaborated on the need for better public awareness and engagement with women’s cricket, saying, “There’s a lot to learn. It’s true that taking games to smaller cities is important but it doesn’t allow for a country the size of India to be able to publicise as much as they would like to.”
Wakankar emphasized the potential for women’s cricket in India, asserting that it is “not just here to stay but is an equal partner in sharing the passion of cricket that Indians have.”
As India reflects on this historic win, Harmanpreet Kaur, captain of the Indian team, expressed optimism for what lies ahead: “This is not the end, this is just the beginning.” And she’s far from the only one expressing this sentiment. On their part, they look forward to seeing women’s cricket thrive and gain popularity in India.
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