Chasing 229, India’s women team was looking destined to lay its hand on the World Cup title for the first time after Harmanpreet Kaur and Punam Raut added 95-runs for the third wicket before the latter and Veda Krishnamurthy added 53 runs for the next wicket.
India was on 191 for three, needing just 38 runs with more than seven overs left and were firmly on top at the Lord’s. However, Punam Raut’s dismissal turned the match on its head, as Anya Shrubsole rocked India’s batting line-up, taking six for 46 to derail the chase. India lost their last seven wickets for just 28 runs and lost the match by nine runs.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, the Women in Blue have been lauded from all quarters for their valiant effort. However, there is absolutely no denying that the defeat is a hard pill to swallow for the players and veteran bowler Jhulan Goswami echoed the same sentiments while presenting her World Cup semi-final shirt to Kolkata’s Fanatic Sports Museum on Thursday (August 24).
“I have played four World Cups and finished runners-up twice (2005 and 2017). Whatever people say, finishing second hurts and till we win an ICC event, it won’t go away. It doesn’t matter whether I am there or not then. The World T20 next year in the West Indies, therefore, is huge for the team,” Goswami was quoted as saying by The Hindustan Times.
Jhulan’s jersey, meanwhile, was placed in front of the bats with which former India captain Sourav Ganguly scored two international hundreds.
The players have been showered with praises and rewards after the World Cup heroics, but Jhulan is under no illusion that the team cannot sit on the laurels and need to perform.
“While every team member is deservedly enjoying the attention now, how we handle expectations and criticism will be crucial to how we perform. The days ahead will be tough,” she said.
The women cricket’s leading wicket-taker in ODIs, Jhulan further said she is not eyeing the 200-mark. The right-arm pacer needs five more wickets to become the first women cricketer to take 200 wickets in 50-over cricket.
“I had set a target of 181 (to become the world’s leading ODI wicket-taker), and such was the pressure that my performance dipped. So now, I only tell myself to do what the team needs,” she said.
The veteran star, who rejected offers from the Big Bash in order to ply her trade for Bengal, also emphasised the need of reviving an under-16 tournament in addition to starting an IPL for women. She said that while under-16 tournament would provide the youngsters with a much-needed platform, the IPL would allow the players to share a dressing room with top players.