The Indian women kick-started their T20 World Cup campaign in Australia on 21 February on a positive note. The women in blue took on defending champions and favourites Australia in the first match of the tournament and came out winners. It was Poonam Yadav’s four-wicket haul and Tania Bhatia behind the wickets that put the brakes on the Australians and ultimately won India the match.
The Aussies won the toss and put India in to bat first. Deepti Shama top scored for the Indian women with 49 off 46 balls to help get the total up to a modest 132/4 in the twenty overs. Though opener Alyssa Healy did well for her team (51 off 35) wickets fell regularly at the other end. Finally her wicket fell to Poonam Yadav.
Poonam Yadav not only took the wicket of the settled opener but also claimed three other wickets; conceding just 19 runs to seal the fate of the Australians. It is heartening that India won despite the top order not performing up to expectations.
Wicket keeper Tania Bhatia's two caught behinds and two brilliant stumpings also contributed majorly to the Indian triumph.
Former cricketer and popular commentator Alan Wilkins had this to say about Yadav and Bhatia’s performances.
Commentator and former West Indian cricketer tweeted this rather adorable series of pictures; proving that size does not matter when there is so much talent in a small package.
Finally women’s cricket is attracting some of the attention that it deserves from a cricket-mad country.
Women's cricket used to be niche and is now more mainstream. Rising numbers of spectators – at the stadium as well as viewership on TV and streaming services seems to indicate this.
The Indian women were cheered on by a sizeable group of Indian supporters at the Sydney stadium.
Buoyed by the Indian women's win over the Australian counterparts, Indian supporters are looking forward to more such exciting matches. This impromptu video from the 19 year old Jemimah Rodrigues (who contributed 26 runs to the Indian total) indicates an upbeat optimism. The next Indian fixture of the T20 Women's World Cup is scheduled for 24th February against Bangladesh and then on 27th against New Zealand.
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