After India’s historic Women’s Cricket World Cup win over South Africa, Ski Sports CricketNasser Hussein was thinking of a triumph that could turn them into an “unstoppable force”.
It was India’s first World Cup victory and one that many believe could bring about seismic changes in the sport.
After Shafali Verma top scored with 87 off 78 balls as India posted 298-7 after losing the toss and batting at the DI Patil Stadium, they managed to dismiss South Africa for 246 despite a brilliant batting display from their captain Laura Walward (101).
Hussain had spoken throughout the tournament that a win for India could change the landscape of the sport and after their sensational semi-final win over Australia, they were on the brink.
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Nasser Hussain reflects on India’s sensational victory over South Africa in the Women’s Cricket World Cup final
Now a noticeable change in the sport is a reality.
“Every other Women’s World Cup has had either England or Australia, or both, so I think it’s great for the game that we have a new winner,” Hussain said.
“The sleeping giant that is the Indian female cricket is well and truly awake and they could be an unstoppable force.”
How did India pull off their win?
There are many elements that go into winning, but for Hussain, India have been developing at this point with the form of the players, the crowd and the growth of the VPL playing their part.
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Harmanpreet Kaur took a brilliant catch to make her team the Cricket World Cup champions
“It’s been going in that direction already with the WPL and the way this cricket team has played over the last few years. They just needed this night, this tournament, to seal that deal a little bit.”
“The crowd was magnificent and the team was magnificent. They had that little blip in the middle of the tournament but they started well and they finished well. In the end they just had too many fit players compared to South Africa.”
“If you look at that Indian line-up, there were quite a few players in pretty good nick for the rest of the tournament. Unfortunately for South Africa, especially with the bat, they relied heavily on one or two, and so they had to play an extra batsman.
“Fair play to South Africa, they played a lot of good cricket themselves. India were too good, as we’ve seen in this part of the world – men or women and in any format – they’re very difficult to beat.”
‘Living the dream’: From injury to stardom
One of the standout stories from the final is Verma coming through the tournament part way through as an injury replacement for Pratika Rawal after he was initially left out.
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Watch as South Africa lose two vital players and India run wild in the Women’s Cricket World Cup final
In the final, she not only scored a brilliant 87 with the bat, but the part-time bowler took two wickets to complete her redemption arc.
“She started (her career) in an amazing way. She burst onto the scene, she was smashing everything and she had this carefree attitude that you have as a youngster,” Hussain continued.
“Then she exposed herself a bit – especially with the short ball – when she batted. People went at her with the short ball and, in this format, she had to be left out.”
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Nadine de Klerk and Deepti Sharma collided painfully as the South African bowler jumped to take out the towering Amanjyot Kaur
“Then Pratika Rawal had that injury and she came back and I thought it was a bit of a gamble to pick her in the semi-final and then the final, but she played brilliantly.
“She was batting brilliantly and it was a bit of genius to bowl her too. I don’t know where it came from but they bowled her and she was outstanding. Really good selection and really good for her to get back into it and play the way she has.”
India impresses under pressure
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Australia captain Alyssa Healy left a keeper in Navi Mumbai, giving Jemima Rodriguez life on 82 as the World Cup holders were knocked out in the semi-finals
It was the details of the Indian team that proved the difference in the final, Deepti Sharma once again showed her class with 58 with the bat and a stunning 5-39 with the ball.
They learned from the pressure of losing three in a row in the group stage and withstood the pressure to come out on top despite the hype around them.
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Jemimah Rodrigues gave a touching interview after helping India reach the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup with a 127-run thrashing of Australia
“They’ve pretty much got every base covered. They’ve got quality seam, they’ve got good spin, they’ve got backup and I think Jemama Rodriguez sets the tone in field diving.”
“I thought they handled the pressure well. Everyone talks about the pressure coming here for South Africa and handling this cauldron, but actually as a home team, as various Indian sides have found out, you are under pressure.”
“Lose this and you go from hero to zero very quickly in this part of the world and you’ll be vilified tomorrow. For these women it would have been another final lost, so it was a huge moment – especially for Harmanpreet Kaur.
“When they lost those three games in the middle, there were a few questions about Harmanpreet’s captaincy, so to see her go and take that catch and run away with the team behind her was massive.