Did Deepti Sharma's all-round brilliance lead India to a historic World Cup title?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Navi Mumbai, Nov 3 (NationPress) All-rounder Deepti Sharma delivered a performance reminiscent of Yuvraj Singh’s iconic display in the 2011 Men's ODI World Cup. The experienced off-spinner led the tournament's wicket-takers with a remarkable 22 scalps, becoming the most successful bowler, while also amassing 215 runs, including three half-centuries, thus earning the title of MVP of the tournament.
On her momentous day, Deepti dedicated the POTS trophy to her parents, expressing that clinching the maiden World Cup title feels surreal.
"Honestly, this feels like a dream because we have not been able to come out of that emotion. Feeling really nice, I could contribute this way in a World Cup final," Deepti remarked, having scored a resilient 58 and taken 5-39 in the final.
"We have always thought about how we can use the takeaways from every match. Thanks to everyone, this achievement would not have been possible. As a team, we are feeling very happy," she added during the post-match presentation.
Deepti enjoyed her assigned role by the team management. Stepping in at a pivotal moment after the loss of captain Harmanpreet Kaur, she helped stabilize the innings to set a formidable total.
"I always enjoy whatever role I am given. I wanted to play according to the situation. It was an amazing feeling to perform as an all-rounder on such a grand stage," she expressed.
She commended South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt, who fought valiantly with a century (101), keeping her team in the game. Deepti noted that the Indian players maintained their composure even as the South Africans mounted a comeback.
"Laura played a very good innings. However, we remained calm and motivated each other. As a bowling unit, we discussed going until the last ball and focusing on our best deliveries, which is what we executed," Deepti explained.
When asked about her vision for women's cricket, Deepti stated, "There has been significant change since 2017. I hope we can have more matches in the future. I want to dedicate this POTS trophy to my mom and dad."