India More Than Capable Of Winning Women's World Cup: Mithali
Auckland: India women's cricket team captain Mithali Raj has said that her side is "more than capable" of winning the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, beginning in New Zealand on March 4, adding that it is now "just a case of doing it" after coming close on two occasions.
India begin their campaign in the mega event, to be played across six venues in New Zealand from March 4, with a game against arch-rivals Pakistan on March 6.
Mithali said the impact India's title victory in the mega event will have on the country will be "incredible".
"We have shown that we are more than capable of winning the trophy, it is now just a case of doing it and the impact of doing so would be incredible. I can only imagine what its effect would be," Mithali said in her column for ICC.
"I clearly remember the emotions from the final of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in 2017, having come so close to winning. The match against England was played in a packed Lord's stadium and to miss out on that chance is something that will rankle forever," added the skipper.
After defeating six-time champions Australia in the semifinals, India made it to the 2017 World Cup final, where they lost to hosts England.
"It has been an honour to have led India to two of the three ICC finals we have reached, going back to the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2005 in South Africa. We have had several memorable performances over this period but are missing that one huge win.
"We have now been the beaten finalists in the most recent 50-over and 20-over World Cup finals and have learnt so much from those experiences that we will take into this World Cup in New Zealand," said Mithali.
She said a title triumph in New Zealand could speed up BCCI's plans to organise a women's IPL.
"Not only would it mean so much for the players and our families, but it would make a real difference for all our fans back home in India, where there is already great anticipation for a Women's IPL. Our fans are some of the most passionate in the world and we know that they will be watching on. I'm sure if we did win, we would be able to hear them all the way from New Zealand.
"To be recognized on the streets in my country is something I never expected when I appeared in my first World Cup in 2000, also in New Zealand, but that is now so common and shows how much the game has grown in India."
Mithali said that she and pace-bowling stalwart Jhulan Goswami, who too was part of the 2005 campaign, "badly want to win an ICC World title".
"Jhulan Goswami was by my side in 2005 and has been an ever-present member of the Indian team in all those years since, she has amassed 240 wickets in ODIs, 60 more than anyone else and luckily shows no signs of slowing down. We both so badly want to win an ICC World title before we call it a day!
"We have, of course, been joined by so many talented youngsters in recent years. There is huge talent in India and I am sure the next crop of players is already inspiring thousands and thousands of girls out there to pick up the bat or ball. When I was growing up, there was only the odd girl attending an academy but bunches of them are the norm nowadays," said Mithali.
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