The Indian women's cricket team is currently the talk of the town. Soon after India eves beat Australia to enter the World Cup finals against England, all veteran cricketers took to social media to congratulate Mithali Raj and company. But Gautam Gambhir feels India's World Cup victory on Sunday could be greater than the one in 2011. Well, he is absolutely right in saying so because this would be the pinnacle moment for all female cricketers of the nation. And the intensity of holding the women's world cup would be at a different level altogether.
The last time Indian women reached a world cup final was in 2005, where the Australians beat them by a convincing margin. It is after 12 years that an Indian cricket team has gained the opportunity to bring the women's world cup home.
In an interview, Gambhir said, "When we won in 2011 it was at home and we were the tournament favourites. But the women won the semi-final against Australia in difficult conditions. They are one step away from the World Cup and if they can win this, it will be bigger than the 2011 World Cup win."
Gambhir also went ahead and praised Harmanpreet Kaur for her unbeaten 171 against Australia in the semi-final. He said, "The occasion was very important. There will be other players who will play knocks like that, those who will get bigger runs than her. But it was a World Cup semi-final and against Australia. For a 42-overs game to finish 171 not out was unbelievable, incredible. If it was a 50-overs game who knows she would have got a double ton as well. She did it when India needed it the most and has got India one step away from a World Cup win."
Many people are already comparing this upcoming final against England to India's 1983 triumph under Kapil Dev's able captaincy. Indian men beat West Indies in the final. The victory was much ahead of their times. And we hope the Indian women also pull off something similar.