Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur insists hosts have prepared well and will give their best in today’s Women’s World Cup final; SA captain Laura Wolvaardt feels pressure of expectations will hamper the Indians
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur (left) and South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt alongside the winner’s trophy on the eve of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup final at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Saturday. Pic/PTI
So, who will hold the Women’s World Cup trophy for the first time in their life — India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur or her South African Laura counterpart Wolvaardt? The answer to this all-important question depends on which team holds their nerve and does not succumb to the pressure of this mega final.
Both Harmanpreet and Wolvaardt appeared confident and excited on the eve of the title battle as they posed alongside the prestigious trophy.
Massive home support
The hosts will have the added edge of playing in front of around 45,000 home spectators at the DY Patil Stadium. For Harmanpreet, 36, who is playing her fifth World Cup (across formats), it will probably be her last chance to grab the big prize, which is due to her ever since she played that epic match-winning 115-ball unbeaten 171 against Australia in the 2017 World Cup semi-final. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana (389 runs in the competition), who is the second leading run-getter after Wolvaardt (470 runs), and scored an impressive 109 against New Zealand in the league game at the same venue, might well have saved her best for last. Then of course there is local girl Jemimah Rodrigues, who inspired with her match-winning unbeaten 127 against the mighty Australians in the semi-final on Thursday, also instilling big-match confidence in her teammates in the bargain.
Harmanpreet’s message for her teammates was crystal clear. “When you are at a stage like this, playing the final match of the World Cup, I don’t think there can be a bigger motivation. Our entire team is charged up, standing alongside each other with prayers and blessings. This shows how much this team is together and how ready we are for this match. Now, it’s all about giving your best, strategy and everything,” Harmanpreet said at the pre-match press conference on Saturday.
India’s bowling department will depend on pacers Kranti Gaud (nine wickets in the competition) and Renuka Singh Thakur (three wickets) to give them a good start. Though the DY Patil Stadium track seems to be a batting-friendly strip, spinners Deepti Sharma (17 wickets), Shree Charani (13) and Radha Yadav (4) are more capable of troubling the Proteas with their turn and guile.
Though India got their momentum back after beating NZ and Australia in back-to-back matches, the fact that they lost to the South Africans by three wickets in the league phase at Visakhapatnam on October 9 could play on the back of their minds. South Africa also began their World Cup campaign with a 10-wicket defeat to England in Guwahati and then managed to post just 97 versus Australians in Indore, before they picked up their game and beat England in the semis. Harmanpreet realises the potential of this Proteas side. “They [SA] have played very well despite a poor start. The way they have come back into this tournament has been outstanding to watch. SA are a very balanced side. We know that they have a good bowling attack and, at the same time, there is a lot of depth in their batting too. But our team has also got a lot of positives. It will be a very interesting final and we are mentally and physically preparing ourselves for that level. Hopefully, we will enjoy ourselves tomorrow,” said Harmanpreet when asked about her team’s defeat to SA in the league phase.
‘It will be a very tough game’
SA lost their last two T20 World Cup finals in 2023 to Australia in Cape Town and against New Zealand in the 2024 edition at Dubai. However, SA captain Wolvaardt believes her team has a good chance of winning this time. “It’s going to be a very tough game with the whole crowd behind India, probably a sold out stadium, but I think that also puts a lot of pressure on them. They [India] have the whole country behind them and are expected to win. I guess that sort of plays in our favour hopefully,” said Wolvaardt.
20-13
Ind vs SA head-to-head in 34 WODIs — one match ended in no result
Rs 40cr
Prize money for winners of the Women’s World Cup
Rs 20cr
Prize money for runners-up of the Women’s World Cup
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
