Despite losing matches they should have won in the league stage, Harmanpreet Kaur & Co learnt from their errors and when a similar situation came through in the knockouts, they were ready for it and didn’t make the same mistakes
India players in celebratory mode during the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup final in Navi Mumbai on Sunday. PIC/GETTY IMAGES
The euphoric feeling of the Indian girls winning the ICC World Cup keeps bringing a smile to Indian cricket lovers’ faces even as the President and Prime Minister of India and various state governments felicitate the girls, who brought glory to the country. To go to the magnificent Rashtrapati Bhavan is simply an enthralling experience that can’t be expressed in words. It is far more unnerving than going to the Buckingham Palace, but once one enters the lush grounds, the nervousness is taken over by a huge sense of pride and the privilege of meeting the President and the Prime Minister is just incredible.
Learnt from losses
Harmanpreet Kaur and her team have etched their names on the hearts of not just every Indian cricket lover, but also those who barely follow the game. It was not only the skill level but the fierce determination to come out of tough situations that was the hallmark of their campaign. The talent has always been there, but the temperament had faltered at turning points of the game in the past. Not this time, as, despite losing matches they should have won in the league stage, they learnt from their errors there and when a similar situation came through in the semis and in the final, they were ready for it and didn’t make the same mistakes.
The most heartening part was to see how Harmanpreet and her team brought former players like Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami into the circle of joy and gave them the trophy to hold and lift it above their heads. Some of the current players would have played with both these wonderful players and seen the heartbreaking losses, especially the narrow one to England in 2017 and it was terrific to see that even in their moment of victory, Harmanpreet and her team had not forgotten the roles played by these girls in shaping their careers.
Celebration at its best
Harmanpreet also did a few Bhangra steps before receiving the long-awaited Trophy from the hands of Jay Shah, the Chairman of ICC. It was such a refreshing celebration, much like how the Caribbean players celebrate, bringing originality rather than copying celebrations from other sport.
For Jay it must have been a moment of great satisfaction too, for if there is one person who has taken bold steps to give Indian girls the drive and the motivation to excel, it is the former secretary of BCCI. It was under his leadership that the BCCI decided to make the girls’ match fees on par with the men’s while playing for India. If that was not a confidence booster, then starting the WPL, where not only some girls became crorepatis but also got a chance to rub shoulders and observe and learn from some of the overseas legends of the game, was definitely it. That can be a big game changer as the awe factor goes away seeing that these greats are also human like others — with two eyes, ears, hands and legs.
One can’t forget Mandira Bedi too, who selflessly not only gave her endorsement fees to the women’s team but also brought the brand and some others to sponsor women’s cricket when there was hardly any support for their cricket.
Finally, just a word of caution to the girls. Please don’t get disappointed if some of the promised awards don’t come to you. In India, advertisers and brands and individuals are quick to jump on the bandwagon and try and get free publicity for themselves on the shoulders of the winners. Have a look at the full-page advertising and hoardings congratulating the team. Unless they are team and individual players sponsors, the rest are only trying to promote their brands or themselves and giving nothing to the ones who have brought glory to Indian cricket.
Don’t fall for promises
The 1983 team also were made many promises with loads of coverage in the media then. Almost all never materialised. The media can’t be blamed as they were happy to carry the lofty announcements, not realising that they also were being used by these shameless people. So girls, don’t fret if these shameless ones are using your win to promote themselves.
The 1983 guys will tell you that so many decades down the line, the love and affection of the simple Indian cricket lover is our greatest wealth and so it will be yours too, when you also put your feet up. Heartiest congratulations once again. The nation is proud of you. Jai Hind.
Professional Management Group
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