Did the Indian Team Show Their Support for the Women's World Cup Final?
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Key Takeaways
New Delhi, Nov 2 (NationPress) Following their win in the third T20I against Australia in Hobart on Sunday, members of the senior Indian men’s cricket team came together to support the Women’s World Cup final between India and South Africa, showing their solidarity from a distance.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) posted a photo capturing head coach Gautam Gambhir, fielding coach T Dilip, Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and other staff members as they tuned in to watch the final match.
In the caption, BCCI expressed their support with the phrase, “Backing the #WomenInBlue.” The eagerly awaited ODI World Cup final faced a two-hour delay due to unrelenting rain at the venue, which resulted in a postponed toss. Both teams were vying for their first ICC trophy, and the Proteas won the toss, allowing the Women in Blue to bat first.
India started strong, with openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana performing exceptionally during the initial powerplay, accumulating 64 runs within 10 overs. The pair established a solid 104-run opening partnership before Chloe Tryon dismissed Mandhana, providing the first breakthrough for her team.
Shafali, who had joined the squad before the intense semi-final, had struggled in the knockout match against Australia. However, it was Jemimah Rodrigues’ century and Harmanpreet Kaur’s impressive 89-run performance that propelled India past the defending champions into their third 50-over World Cup final.
Nonetheless, Shafali showcased her talent and silenced critics by confidently facing the South African bowlers. She achieved her half-century on the last ball of the 18th over, reaching this milestone off just 49 balls.
Thanks to her steady innings and Rodrigues’ composed play, India finished the halfway mark at 151/1.