Cricket
The game that changed women’s cricket in India forever
Winning world championships in India changes everything. It always has. Cricket does not need to be told how important Kapil Dev’s class of 1983 or MS Dhoni’s victories of 2007 and 2011 were not only for India but also for the financial well-being of the global sport. It is crucial for India to win World Cups, including in women’s cricket.
This statement highlights the significance of winning world championships in India, particularly in the sport of cricket. The victories of Kapil Dev’s team in 1983 and MS Dhoni’s team in 2007 and 2011 are seen as important not only for India but also for the financial stability of the sport globally. The statement emphasizes that it is crucial for India to win World Cups in both men’s and women’s cricket.
This statement highlights the impact that winning a World Cup can have and the importance of recognizing the individuals responsible for creating that change. The people responsible for the victory should be remembered forever.
Shafali Verma : Fantastic captain of Indian women’s cricket team
In recent years, the term has often lost credibility, but the inclusion of Shafali Verma was a true tour de force. India was serious about this tournament. Shafali’s presence gave the team much-needed leadership and an edge at the top that could not be ignored. She has already stated how much she has benefited from the captaincy, that she is scoring more runs again and bowling more. If India have recovered from the loss to Australia, Shafali’s experience at the top of the world is likely to have played a role. Three years later, in March 2020, she will have ended her World Cup fairytale.
Shweta Sehrawat: vice-captain, but first and foremost.
When Shafali was appointed captain in women’s cricket, Delhi’s Shweta Sehrawat had to act as her deputy and focus exclusively on batting. Which was necessary given that she had scored just 147 runs in nine innings in the two bilateral series against New Zealand and South Africa before the World Cup. Most of the players who opened the tournament looked for boundaries on the straight or leg side. Sehrawat was unique, and that was due to her dominant offside play. She scored the most runs (297) and the most boundaries (50 fours and two sixes) and said after the first match against South Africa that she felt she had batted as well as she ever had.
Mannat Kashyap, Parshavi Chopra and Archana Devi are the spin trio of Indian women’s cricket team.
In the past, great things happened in Indian cricket when three good spinners went to the XI regardless of the conditions or opponents, simply because they were that good. Mannat Kashyap, Parshavi Chopra and Archana Devi proved their talent. Kashyap’s left-arm spin was accurate, Chopra proved her ability to convert legbreaks and googlies, and off-spinner Archana Devi’s understanding of the game, throwing the new ball in the semifinals against New Zealand and in the final against England, gave Shafali the luxury that few Indian captains have had in the past, and no other captain in the tournament had.
Titas Sadhu, the last remaining seamer
Titas Sadhu was not in the starting eleven of the Indian team, but she was the last player standing on the pitch, and what a ball she had. She was named player of the game in the final after hitting five of six shots in her first at-bat. Sadhu threw a maiden over and four shots in her first game of the tournament, carting the bowlers around the flat tracks at Benoni. Her consistency in hitting good lines and lengths and “keeping it simple” as she put it was impressive on several occasions throughout the tournament.
Soumya Tiwari is the ideal foil.
In a tournament full of flops, India’s numbers 3 and 4 did not have much to do, but Soumya Tiwari and Gongadi Trisha made the perfect counterparts to Shafali and Sehrawat. Both struck when they were needed, with the exception of Australia, whose defeat forced India to revert to Tiwari, who had been benched after the first match. Tiwari’s return, in turn, seemed to spark interest in India as fielders. Both caught excellent balls in the final, and Tiwari was on fire from the start against Sri Lanka, giving India a perfect start after losing to Australia. She compares herself to Kohli and tries to imitate everything he does, from his demeanour to his cheers to his jersey number 18, and in the end she provided the winning run.
Where had Richa Ghosh gone?
Richa Ghosh had a quiet tournament by her standards. Ninety-three runs in four innings, with a high score of 49 after she was dismissed four times by UAE. She also had a mixed record behind the stumps, which meant that Hrishita Basu, India’s keeper in women’s cricket Ghosh’s absence, had to run around the field, which she did brilliantly. However, Ghosh’s presence and experience could only benefit the tournament as it progressed. Her highlight was alerting Shafali at the halfway line to run with the cover fielder to prevent a relay. arre tu bhi bhaag Shifu, bhaag, bhaag.
Shabnam MD, S Yashasri, and Falak Naz, because yaar’s pace is yaar’s pace
India could have played with one point throughout the tournament. They eventually opted for the extra spin option of Sonam Yadav, who did not do much wrong. Offspinner Sonia Mendhiya got to four innings but failed to make an impact, bringing Tiwari back. Seamers Shabnam MD, Falak Naz and S. Yashasri had to settle for India’s chosen combination. It must be remembered that India has other promising players in the pace department besides Sadhu. Shabnam has pace, Yashasri hits the deck and gets batsmen in trouble, and when it comes to swing, Naz is on hand. All three quicks will undoubtedly have their moments in the future.
Nooshin Al Khadeer is the coach.
Nooshin Al Khadeer, India’s first T20I international and now the country’s first coach to win a World Cup in women’s cricket, was instrumental in the team’s success. India played tactically smart in the semifinals and final, with intelligent compositions and consistent selection. The fielders got better and better as the tournament progressed. They also changed the batting order in one group match to give more batsmen game time, which is unusual for Indian teams in World Cups.
In an emotional interview after the final, Shafali broke down in tears of joy several times, especially when she stressed the importance of the head coach’s role. Nooshin “experienced her dream through the eyes of these girls” when she came to South Africa for the second time in 2023 after missing out as a player in 2005, the first time an Indian women’s team reached a World Cup final.
Wins at senior World Cups change the game. For the U19 team, they are life-changing. On March 2, 2008, Kohli led India to the final of the U19 World Cup in Malaysia. Forty days later, he took the field for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the opening match IPL. All of the Indian players in that final went on to play in the IPL, starting a trend of franchises relying on U19 talent ever since.
Shafali has just led Indian Women’s cricket to a historic first Women’s World Cup on Jan. 29, 2023, albeit at the U19 level. She and many of her teammates who won the World Cup will be wearing the WPL jersey in less than 40 days.
On Thursday, November 2, Virat Kohli achieved an accomplishment. He became the batsman to surpass 1000 runs in ODIs in 2023, following in the footsteps of Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma. Not that,. He also joined Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Pathum Nissanka as the fourth players to achieve this impressive record in the 50-over format within the same year.
Stepping into History with 1000 Runs in ODIs
Entering the realm of history, Kohli’s unwavering determination and exceptional skills were put on display during his match in 2023. Notably, the cricket maestro, now 34 years old, made an indelible impact by surpassing Sachin Tendulkar‘s record, securing the most number of years with 1000 runs in ODIs. Kohli’s consistent ability to perform at such an exceptional level has been a defining characteristic of his illustrious career, as he had previously achieved this monumental milestone in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2019, before accomplishing it once again in the present year of 2023.
Sachin Tendulkar with god of cricket Virat Kohli pic.twitter.com/zmztejNBBB
— Kevin (@imkevin149) November 2, 2023
An Unforgettable Journey
In an intense World Cup 2023 clash against Sri Lanka at the renowned Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Virat Kohli’s pursuit of this historic milestone was realized with an impressive 34 runs. Despite facing challenges, including a rare duck against England at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, his overall performance throughout the year has been nothing short of spectacular.
Kohli’s memorable journey was highlighted by an unbeaten century during India’s triumphant seven-wicket victory against Bangladesh at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune. Adding to his illustrious record, he solidified his stature with a brilliant 95 runs, making a significant contribution to India’s thrilling four-wicket win over New Zealand led by Tom Latham at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Pune.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, on Tuesday, October 31, achieved a remarkable feat, becoming the third fastest bowler to secure 100 wickets in ODIs. His outstanding performance during Pakistan’s World Cup 2023 match against Bangladesh at the renowned Eden Gardens in Kolkata led to this historic accomplishment.
A Landmark Moment
In the thrilling encounter, Shaheen clinched his 100th wicket in only his 51st match, dismissing Tigers’ opening batter Tanzid Hasan Tamim. The left-arm fast bowler displayed exceptional skill as he struck Tamim on the pads, prompting the on-field umpire to raise his finger. Despite Tamim’s referral to the third umpire using the Decision Review System (DRS), the replays confirmed the ball crashing into the stumps, upholding the on-field decision. Bangladesh lost their first wicket with the scoreboard reading 0 in just 0.5 overs.
Shaheen Afridi soars high yet again with another feat to his name 🦅#CWC23 | #PAKvBAN pic.twitter.com/IlQQ6P5xYK
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) October 31, 2023
Surpassing Preceding Records
Shaheen Shah Afridi not only secured this feat in record time but also outshone the accomplishments of esteemed bowlers preceding him. He surpassed the record of the fastest pacer, previously held by Mitchell Starc, who attained the milestone in August 2016 during an ODI against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Legacy of Excellence
Moreover, Shaheen shattered the long-standing record held by Saqlain Mushtaq, becoming the fastest Pakistani bowler to claim 100 wickets in ODIs. Saqlain had set this record on May 12, 1997, during an ODI against Sri Lanka in Gwalior. It is notable that among the Pakistani fast bowlers, the accomplished Shaheen Shah Afridi follows in the footsteps of the legendary Waqar Younis, who achieved the 100-wicket mark back in February 1993 against Zimbabwe in Sharjah.
Beyond ODIs
Demonstrating his prowess beyond ODIs, Shaheen has made significant contributions in Tests and T20Is as well. Since his debut in 2018, he has garnered 105 wickets in Tests and 64 wickets in T20Is. His exceptional journey began with a strong performance in the U19 World Cup in New Zealand. Notably, he played a pivotal role in Lahore Qalandars’ consecutive victories in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
A Testament to Talent and Dedication
Shaheen Shah Afridi’s rapid rise to 100 ODI wickets within 51 matches underlines his exceptional talent and unwavering dedication to the sport. As he continues to leave an indelible mark on the cricketing world, his journey serves as an inspiration for aspiring cricketers worldwide. With his remarkable achievements, Afridi has solidified his place in the annals of cricket history, etching his name as one of Pakistan’s most formidable and promising fast bowlers.
Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has recently expressed admiration for India’s dominant performance in the ongoing 2023 ICC World Cup. With India securing victories in all six matches, Akhtar highlighted the team’s exceptional display across various aspects of the game. Although the recent batting performance against England in Lucknow was relatively modest, India’s fierce bowling attack, led by Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, proved instrumental in securing a remarkable win. This triumph not only solidified India’s leading position on the points table but also exacerbated England’s struggles in the tournament, leaving them virtually eliminated.
India’s Remarkable Bowling Transformation
In his analysis, Akhtar emphasized the transformative impact of Shami’s inclusion in India’s playing eleven following Hardik Pandya’s injury. Acknowledging Shami’s outstanding performances against New Zealand and England, Akhtar credited India’s ability to win matches through their bowling prowess, showcasing a shift from their traditional reliance on batting strength. He commended the collective effort of the Indian bowling unit, particularly recognizing the strategic brilliance of fast bowler Bumrah.
India’s Path to World Cup Glory
Looking ahead, Akhtar voiced his confidence in India’s potential to secure their third ODI World Cup trophy, highlighting the team’s upcoming matches against Sri Lanka, South Africa, and the Netherlands. Expressing optimism, he emphasized the significance of maintaining their unbeaten streak en route to the final, setting the stage for a potential historic ICC World Cup victory. However, Akhtar cautioned against compromising the successful bowling unit once Pandya returns to full fitness, warning against the potential detriment of a partially fit Pandya’s inclusion at the expense of a bowler.
Akhtar’s Praise for India and its Response to Criticism
Addressing skepticism surrounding his praise for the Indian team, Akhtar reiterated the exceptional nature of India’s performance, particularly in their ability to defend a modest total with a significant margin of victory. Undeterred by criticism, Akhtar reaffirmed his admiration for India’s exceptional cricketing prowess, urging acknowledgment and appreciation of their commendable achievements.
Shoaib Akhtar’s Perspective on Virat Kohli
Shifting focus, Akhtar’s history of praise extends beyond team performances to individual players, notably including former Indian team captain Virat Kohli. Reminiscing on Kohli’s resilience during a challenging phase in his career, Akhtar highlighted the pivotal role played by Kohli’s consistent century-scoring performances, leading to India’s victories. Recognizing Kohli’s contribution to the team’s success, Akhtar emphasized the significance of Kohli’s monumental centuries during crucial chases, solidifying his status as a crucial asset for the Indian cricket team.
In a comparison between Kohli and the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, Akhtar acknowledged Tendulkar’s status as one of the greatest batsmen while highlighting the challenges Tendulkar faced as a captain. Drawing parallels, Akhtar expressed confidence in Kohli’s eventual resurgence, expecting him to return to his prolific scoring form once he finds his equilibrium.
In summary, Akhtar’s acknowledgment of India’s exceptional performance and his recognition of individual players’ contributions underscore the team’s formidable presence in the 2023 ICC World Cup, setting the stage for a potential historic triumph in the coming days.
1000 Runs in ODIs: Kohli’s Cricket Legacy
Shaheen Shah Afridi: Fastest to 100 ODI Wickets
ICC World Cup: Shoaib Akhtar says, ‘Mai India ki tareef kyu na karu’
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