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Indian Eves deserve massive celebrations, empty streets on Sunday

India women are on verge of winning their first ever World Cup at Lord's; the same venue wherein India's men's team attained the feat in 1983.

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India women © Getty Images
India women © Getty Images

Let me confess. When India Women steered into the semi-finals of ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 beating New Zealand, I did not count on them to make it to the summit clash. No, it was not that I did not believe in the team, but their next oppositions were the mighty Australians, an intimidating side by all means. It was never going to be easy. Even Mithali Raj echoed the same opinion “It is going to be a big game and if we can pull out one win, it will be exceptional by the team.”

Nonetheless, cometh the big game, cometh the team. On Thursday, The Eves pulled off a stunning 35-run victory over Australia, and will now meet England in a bid to win their first World Cup.

The Kaur-minator:

Opting to bat after rain delay, India were 35 for 2 in a 42-overs contest. Smriti Mandhana and Punam Raut departed early. Mithali steadied the ship, but perished before producing a special innings. Someone had to up the ante and bat till the end. After all, India were kept at bay versus Australia in the group stage and could not manage a challenging total. They could not afford the same mistake again, and were in search of something extraordinary.

Then Harmanpreet Kaur stood up and launched the big hits one after the other. India notched up 129 in the last 10 overs. Harmanpreet’s 171 not out (20 fours and 7 sixes) propelled her way into the record books.

Harmanpreet, striking at 149, became the first Indian to smash 150 in an ODI knockout match. She also became the third Indian (after Sourav Ganguly and Rohit Sharma) to register a three-figure mark in a World Cup knockout match (and also the second woman across nations). She helped India to reach 281 for 4 (in 42 overs, remember?) and cause enough stir in the opposition camp. The bowlers responded with early breakthroughs and emerged champions despite late onslaught triggered by the Aussies.

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With this emphatic triumph, India women will fancy their chances of winning their first ever World Cup if they beat England at Lord’s (where their men had attained a similar feat in 1983). The Indian women are certainly on verge of matching their opposite sex in every aspect!

The Chak De resemblance

Chak De! India is undoubtedly one of the most iconic films of the last decade. In the movie, women’s hockey team had to play a virtual qualification match against the men’s side to prove the management of their worth and fly to Australia for the World Cup. Despite losing 2-3, they were sent to the marquee event for their sheer fighting spirit. The side, coached by Kabir Khan (played by Shahrukh Khan), won the cup in the climax and the movie garnered positive response worldwide.

On a similar note, the Indian women’s cricket team had to play the qualifiers, in Sri Lanka, to book their place in the main draw of the ongoing championship. They were handed a new coach, Tushar Arothe, almost at the doorstep of the World Cup.

However, strong character and determination knows no limit. The Eves rose to the occasion, defeated England in their first game, entered the knockouts, went past Australia and are set to play the finale. They would be beaming in confidence after beating top teams in their category (England, Australia and New Zealand).

The Eves are just one step away from owning a page (or maybe a small chapter) in the history of Indian cricket.

Where are the firecrackers? 

“I would like to thank the support staff and all the fans for their support”, quoted Harmanpreet after her whirlwind knock on Thursday. While she thanked her fans, did the nation really go overboard with the celebrations yesterday? Where were the firecrackers? Will the streets remain empty on Sunday?

I clearly remember minimal traffic in Navi Mumbai when Virat Kohli’s India faced South Africa in the ‘virtual quarter-final’ of the recently Champions Trophy. Had the fans remained this way if their ‘beloved’ Team India would have made it to the last lap of a world event? Let me put across some opinions about women’s cricket by some passionate fans of the country.

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Game bahut slow hota hai. Maaza nahi aata (The game is very slow. I do not enjoy at all)”, claimed a die-hard cricket lover, Aman.

Bahut bade scores nahi bante, centuries bhi zyada nahi hote hain aur uss tarah ka impactful innings kahan dekhne milta hai (there are not many big innings, there are not enough centuries or impactful knocks)”, stated another who doesn’t wish to be named.

To all these rigid minds, there have been 14 tons in the ongoing Women’s World Cup from 30 matches till now. This includes 4 in excess of 150. On the other hand, World Cup 2015 witnessed 38 centuries from 49 encounters (including 7 that went past 150).

Sigh. What boring? Who termed it ‘slow’? Guess, it’s all in the mind.

It is all about the mindset

Bollywood has lately been aggressively pitching their opinion about women in the Indian society. Pink and Lipstick under my Burkha are examples. While these flicks have made the right noise, nothing is likely to change if the mindset of a male-chauvinist society would be questioned on a daily basis. The perception that the sole purpose of the existence of women is to be looked upon as ‘second lead’ and not dare to match the footsteps of the superior sex needs to change.

Some even come up with bizarre logic that cricket is suited to men. Excuse me, who said that? It’s just a myth. Cricket is played between bat and ball. It was never limited to gender.

Can we, for once, stop the comparison and accept the sport the way it is? It had taken me time as well to adopt a stable mind in this regard. As fans we are obsessed with comparisons everything and somehow appear disinterested in the achievements of our women. The girls, on the other hand, strive hard to change our thinking. The change should come from such orthodox, dwindling mindsets.

Before I conclude, since I have mentioned about Chak De! India, I cannot resist mentioning a line voiced by Sukhlal ji (portrayed by Javed Khan): “Haarna nahi hai, haarna nahi hai (don’t lose now, don’t lose). If Mithali’s team returns with the trophy and there is more excitement and involvement from the crowds, the purpose of writing this article would be fulfilled.

Go girls. Hail girl power!

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