This time, Harmanpreet Kaur was determined to win the Women’s World Cup. However, after suffering a similar fate in the past, the India captain was more anxious to avoid losing by a narrow margin.
According to all-rounder Amanjot Kaur, the skipper called all of her teammates hours before the title match against South Africa and urged them to give it their all in the tournament’s final game in Navi Mumbai on Sunday because she was determined to break the curse after the heartbreak of 2017.
Following India’s first World Cup victory, Amanjot spoke at the mixed zone, saying, “It had been more difficult for her because the highs and lows that she has seen are something that we have not. To lose by small margins is not good and she had said this time around that she does not want to lose out by a small margin, everyone will have to go all out. We were just counting the wickets and not keeping an eye on what the score was.”
Amanjot contributed to India’s successful campaign by scoring the winning runs against Australia in the semifinal and taking the catch to dismiss South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt in the final.
Wolvaardt smashed one high in the air towards deep midwicket in the final, hoping to raise the stakes after reaching her hundred. Despite making three fumbles, Amanjot was able to hang onto the ball with one hand, giving India the game’s most important wicket off Deepti Sharma.
“My god, it was the toughest catch of my life. I have never fumbled before — either I have taken them or spilled them. There has been nothing in between but for the first time god gave me three chances (to take it),” she told the media after the match.
“It was a crucial catch and we knew she would attack after completing her century and charge from one end,” she said.
Amanjot chose not to tell her family about her injury before the World Cup and quietly headed to the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru to recover.
“I have not spoken at home yet. All I know is that they have burst some crackers and my grandparents are asleep,” she said.
“(In the morning) my aunt (had) told me to just swing without seeing the ball. My family members don’t understand cricket much. For them, if the ball hits the bat, it’s a four. If not, then you are out and if you are leg-before, why are you even carrying a bat for?”
Amanjot commended Deepti Sharma for her significant contribution to India’s campaign. In addition to capturing five wickets in the final, the senior all-rounder scored 58.
“You can pull out any match whenever she is playing, some or the other record is breaking. Deepti is like that glue which holds our team together, be it bowling, batting or fielding,” she said.
Meanwhile, spinner Radha Yadav remarked that the DY Patil Stadium has always brought good fortune to the Indian team.
“DY Patil has always been lucky for us. Coming here, we always produce something magical and everyone in the team, including the staff and players have to come together for it,” she said.
India pacer Renuka Singh Thakur said it didn’t matter if she was ignored in the opening games of a successful World Cup campaign.
“It doesn’t matter if you are in or out, all that matters is what the team needs at that point. There was a different combination at that time,” she said.
Jemimah Rodrigues, star of the semifinal victory over formidable Australia, expressed her satisfaction with India’s ability to cross the finish line.
“That knock (127 not out) was really, really special. Not because I got a hundred but we defeated Australia,” she said.
“We have always come in close situations and moments and given it away but this Indian team changed that and I loved it for that reason — we defeated them and today we are world champions.
“We spoke about how we give our lives for every single ball,” Rodrigues said talking about the final.
