The women’s competition needs to be judged on its own merits.
India begin their women’s T20 World Cup campaign with a genuine belief in ending their long wait for an ICC title. Having faltered in summit clashes in both the 50-over and 20-over formats, they have leaned on a sports psychologist this time. Blessed with some of the best players in the world, fortified by experience in the Women’s Premier League, India look like real contenders. This coincides with six-time champion Australia’s waning win-percentage in the last one year.
England have been quiet in ICC events, but are coming off a successful season of Hundred — cricket’s latest variation. South Africa were runners-up last time and West Indies are past champions. New Zealand can’t be taken lightly and even Sri Lanka and Pakistan have had some impressive results of late. But this World Cup seems a pivotal moment when an Indian triumph could launch the women’s game into the stratosphere.
There are still some who don’t treat women’s cricket on par with the men’s game. The women’s competition needs to be judged on its own merits. The elegance of a Smriti Mandhana, the bat-swing of Harmanpreet Kaur, the pace of South African Shabnim Ismail, the all-round skill of Aussie Ellyse Perry and smarts of Shreyanka Patil need to be appreciated for their athletic excellence. Shafali Verma can hit the ball into the stands on any ground in the world, but Richa Ghosh pulling off a successful low-score chase against Australia with tail-enders, could provide an equally compelling storyline. Women’s cricket is happily grooving to its own cadence.
