MUMBAI: A new name will be engraved on the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup trophy on Sunday – and whether it be India or South Africa, it will mark a seismic moment in the history of the sport.
Australia and England have previously dominated this tournament by winning it 11 times between them but were blown away in two matches the women’s game may look back upon in years to come as a significant turning point.
South Africa have been knocking on the door for some time. Wednesday marked their third straight ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup semi-final, while they have also contested the last two ICC Women's T20 World Cup finals.
However, the Proteas have found converting talent into trophies difficult to do on both the men’s and women’s sides – until the men became ICC World Test champions in June.
The women arrive in Navi Mumbai blessed with a world-class team forged over many years, led by superstar opening batter Laura Wolvaardt and backed up by the new ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup all-time wicket-taker in Marizanne Kapp. This is, they feel, their destiny.
“I am very proud of the girls and the way we've been performing over the last couple of years,” Kapp said.
“Not a lot of people believed in us. We've just been so blessed to have performed the way we have over the last couple of years.
“I have to give a lot of credit to (head coach) Mandla Mashimbyi. I feel like since he's come on board, we have had a different outlook on the game. This team is like family.
“Cricket isn't everything. Maybe I'm on this path for another reason, I don't know. But having these girls around, having our team management around and then our families, especially if it doesn't go our way, they’re always there, no matter what the outcome.
“That's what’s been really special for us. Just knowing I can go back to my family. But this is what we are here for, the Women’s Cricket World Cup. We have the chance to create history.”
India also have their eye on a transformative victory.
The host’s route to the final, and especially their colossal win against Australia in the second semi-final, has captured the imagination of an cricket-adoring public.
In the age of TikTok, it’s individuals that move the needle and, while India have a roll call of cricketing icons, Jemimah Rodrigues might be one of the most important.
Her match-winning 127 not out to beat Australia was remarkable given both the pressure of the run-chase and the significance of the match. However, it pales into significance when stacked up against how she spoke so candidly about mental health during the tournament.
“I'll be very vulnerable here because I know someone watching this might be going through the same thing,” she said.
“Nobody likes to talk about their weaknesses, but I was going through a lot of anxiety at the start of the tournament, and it was a lot. Before a few games I used to call my mum and cry.
“When you're going through anxiety, you just feel numb. You don't know what to do. You're trying to be yourself.
“I'm very grateful for the people who believed in me when I couldn't and were there for me and understood me because I couldn't do this on my own.”
With Harmanpreet Kaur, also an icon, steering the ship, there is a strong unity among the squad and momentum is with them.
“We want to play the moment and win that moment,” Rodrigues added.
“We want to play the match and win the match, and whichever team would come, I think our reply would be the same. We would play with the same passion, same aggression. We play to win this match for India.” (icc.com)
