Mithali backs team to win maiden ODI World Cup title if they seize key moments
Bengaluru, Aug 14: The Indian women’s team completed a 10-day preparatory camp at the BCCI Centre of Excellence here ahead of the ODI World Cup at home with focus on strength and conditioning besides match simulations.
India, who have never won a world title, will be expected to end their ICC trophy drought in the 50-over showpiece beginning September 30.
“The camp aimed to enhance fitness levels, fine-tune skills and prepare the squad for the challenges ahead,” said the BCCI in a social media post.
India will also play three ODIs against the mighty Australia beginning September 14 before kicking off their World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka on September 30.
“We want to break that barrier which all Indians are waiting for. World Cups are always special, always want to do special for my country. Whenever I see Yuvi bhaiya (Yuvraj Singh) it gives me a lot of motivation,” captain Harmanpreet Kaur had said earlier this week at the trophy unveiling ceremony for the ODI World Cup.
Former India captain Mithali Raj believes a maiden ICC Women’s ODI World Cup title is within the current team’s reach if they are able to seize key moments during the tournament starting on September 30. India head into the eight-team showpiece event as one of the favourites to win the title, though seven-time champions Australia and four-time winners England remain as formidable challengers.
“I think (India) needs to seize those small moments during the big games. That’s where the balance (is) of the teams that are in contention. They try to use more of those moments and try to shift the momentum to their side, and India need to seize those moments,” Mithali was quoted as saying by ICC Digital on Thursday.
Mithali led India to runners-up finishes in 2005 and 2017 and believes winning the title at home would be a huge boost for women’s cricket in the country. “I mean, that is something that all the players, whoever picks up the bat, whoever wants to represent the country, would want to win the World Cup because so far India hasn’t.”
“Yes, we’ve come close twice, but we haven’t got our hands on the Cup. It would be great to win a World Cup at home because that’s a very different stage altogether…and giving all of us an opportunity to see that,” she added. While captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, and Smriti Mandhana are expected to draw the spotlight, Mithali thinks India’s success may hinge on contributions from young fast bowler Kranti Goud, who impressed in the side’s ODI and T20I series wins in England. Kranti, one of the finds from WPL 2025, has played four ODIs so far.
“I was quite impressed with Kranti Goud in England with her raw talent. She has played WPL (Women’s Premier League), but she does not really have that much experience. But the grit that she gets as a seamer trying to keep pegging in and getting wickets (is impressive), and she picked up a six-wicket haul (in England) as well, so I would love to see her in the World Cup playing at home.” (Agencies)