India’s 1983 World Cup victory will forever remain an epochal moment in the nation’s cricketing history. The triumph changed the contours of the sport and helped inspire a generation of future cricketers, brought in sponsorships and created a new fan base, whose passion has only gone upwards since.
The women’s team is aiming for a similar landmark moment as the ODI World Cup begins on September 30, with hosts India facing Sri Lanka in Guwahati. Former captain Diana Edulji recalled her own defining moment – India’s first-ever women’s Test win against the West Indies in Patna in 1976.
“Yes, definitely, I watched the whole game (1983 World Cup final). In 1976, we faced a similar situation when we won our first-ever Test match in Patna, when we beat West Indies (by five wickets). You won’t believe the adulation, the crowd, the frenzy we faced. It was so great. The 1983 World Cup was next level, absolutely. Men’s cricket, it is great to win a World Cup. After that, we had to wait for quite a few years before we could get hold of the trophy. Now the trophies are coming at a regular interval. So that is a good sign for cricket in India. It just shows that the administration is doing a good job. Our domestic structure, I think, is the best among all the countries, and that is why we are able to get the talent,” Edulji told The Indian Express on Saturday.
Edulji also believed that victory in the 2025 women’s World Cup would change the “history and geography” of women’s cricket in India. She added that the triumph might help the next generation consider taking up cricket for a living.
“Definitely. People have been expecting this win since 2017, when we narrowly missed it. Every time, we get it right till the semifinals and then can’t cross that line. It is going to be difficult, but it will change the whole history and geography of women’s cricket, in this country atleast, and of course, BCCI is a power broker for cricket in the world. Also, with WPL, it will become more popular. It will be able to get more teams, more domestic cricket. More domestic cricketers will look into making women’s cricket a career,” she said.
The 69-year-old admitted that if India went on to win the 2025 World Cup, it would help remove a mental block that has been formed, owing to several narrow misses in the last few years.
“As of now, we have not been called chokers. But even in men’s cricket, South Africa, and even women, for that matter, South Africa women were also called chokers. They just could not get over that line. But as time goes by, I am sure, after this, if we cross the line this time, it will be absolutely great. If you come into the finals, then there is no looking back. Then you have to absolutely go more than 100 percent,” the former Committee of Administrators (CoA) member said.
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The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side will play two games each at Visakhapatnam and Navi Mumbai and one game each in Guwahati, Indore and Colombo in the league stage of the tournament.
Viewership will skyrocket if India wins: Sudha Shah
Former India batter and Diana Edulji’s teammate Sudha Shah felt that if the Women in Blue went on to win the 2025 World Cup on home soil, interest and viewership would go through the roof. She also felt the triumph would help more girls take up the sport in the country.
“I think even the 2017 World Cup, where we lost the finals. I think that started, I guess, the viewership, the interest, everything went up from there. Now, if we win it, I think it will skyrocket, and you can see more girls playing. I think for us as old players, for whatever we started and where we will get there, I think it will be worth the journey,” Shah told The Indian Express.
Shah felt India’s women players had become household names with their exploits in the last few years. She believes that they have a good chance to win the title on home soil.
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”I think most of them have become household names across the country. It is not only if we win this World Cup. But I think after the 2017 World Cup, the exposure that the girls are getting now. Back then, there was no TV coverage; it was just a small news item in the paper. But now with all the coverage, both the media and electronic media. I think it will do a lot more for women’s cricket. I think everybody loves a winner. If you finish second, it is good. But a winner, that is what we are waiting for. I think it is a good opportunity since it is here in India. There will be pressure on them, playing in front of a home crowd, but I think it is a great opportunity for them to win.”
The postIf India wins 2025 Women’s World Cup, it will change the whole ’history and geography’ of women’s cricket in the country: Diana Edulji | Cricket News appeared first on Indian Express
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