India’s Momentum In Women’s Cricket Halted After T20 World Cup Early Exit

Ironically, India had to resort to supporting arch nemesis Pakistan – the countries are amid a never-ending bitter feud in cricket although the bad blood doesn’t spill into the women’s game – to keep alive their women’s T20 World Cup campaign.

Pakistan, late to the party in developing women’s cricket, had to beat New Zealand in the final Group A match in Dubai. But New Zealand proved too strong in a result that eliminated both India and Pakistan and ensured that cricket’s heartland of South Asia won’t be represented in the final four.

It was a major disappointment for India, who have made big strides in building up women’s cricket after being well behind the eight ball compared to trendsetters Australia and England who dominated for decades.

The last time India failed to make the semis at a women’s World Cup was in 2016 on home soil back when the event was run parallel – and in the shadows – to the men’s tournament.

But India’s stirring campaign at the 50-over World Cup in 2017 in the UK was seen as a harbinger for Indian women’s cricket. Superstar Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbelievable 171 not out that destroyed an impregnable Australia in a remarkable semi-final upset was seen as a turning point.

So too the final between India and England, who won a classic amid memorable scenes at cricket’s spiritual home of Lord’s. Women’s cricket had come alive and India’s administrators were keen to cash in on a game that had been largely neglected over the years in a region where cultural sensitivities are at play.

In 2018 India launched a three-team Women’s T20 Challenge staged alongside the men’s money-spinning Indian Premier League, which has upended cricket’s calendar and clouded the sport’s future as it fuelled the popularity of domestic franchise competitions.

Covid-19 halted the plans for a fully fledged women’s competition in India until last year’s launch of the Women’s Premier League, where the five teams were sold for $572 million.

Two successful seasons have rolled by, with this year’s final filling the 37,000 Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

ForbesIndian T20 League Is Changing The Face Of Women’s CricketBy Tristan Lavalette

Cynics can easily roll their eyes that the WPL is just another money grab from India’s cash rich governing body, as it conquers an untapped market, but the tournament also doubles as a breeding ground for its young talents to rub shoulders with the very best players in the world.

A new generation is emerging, but results have been mix at international level and India’s latest efforts at the World Cup is clearly a dip although perhaps just merely a blip.

India’s early exit was a particular disappointment for Jay Shah, who was overseeing his last major event as India boss before taking over world cricket.

He has been a strong advocate of women’s cricket and launching the WPL will go down as one of his most significant achievements. Shah had so wanted India to win a first women’s World Cup – T20 or 50-over – but they’ll have to wait a little longer.

India will host next year’s 50-over World Cup and the pressure is set to be immense with their male counterparts having tripped up previously under the suffocating pressure of playing in their cricket obsessed country.

With deep resources at their disposal, it feels like India should start dominating women’s cricket but that day has yet to arrive.