Harman’s Devils conquer the Everest of women’s cricket…. A date worth every wait.

23rd June 2017. When Anya Shrubsole took the last Indian wicket in the women’s world cup final at Lords, the sound of the heartbreak was so deafening that its sound was heard across the 7 seas. It was a case of so near yet so far.

Although Mithali Raj and co had choked on the biggest stage, it ignited a spark in women’s cricket. That day not only urged young girls in the country to pick up a bat and say i am playing cricket, but also make a statement that the women can bring in the crowds like the men in the near future. 

In 2022, the Indian women were victims of yet another heartbreak. Deepti Sharma over stepped in a crucial game against South Africa and India failed to qualify for the semi final and Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami, two Indian stalwarts called it a day on their career. Only Harmanpreet Kaur was the active player who played in 4 world cups for India was the last woman standing.

Then two more heartbreaks, from her bat getting stuck in the semi final of the 2023 T20 World cup against Australia in cape town and then not being able to finish the game against the same opponents, Kaur was under pressure as her captaincy was continuously failing. One final chance beckoned. A home world cup, possibly her last shot at glory. 

But again, as they say a world cup campaign requires hiccups and India had plenty of them. After winning 2 out of their first 3 games, they lost three out of their next 3 and New Zealand, our old nemesis, were up against us in the final league game.  Smriti Mandana, Pratika Rawal and Sri Charani, the new rockstar on the block spun a web around them and a semi final against Australia beckoned YET AGAIN.

But this time the tables turned, Australia dropped catches, the hosts were egged on by the crowd and despite losing 2 early wickets were propelled by a record partnership between Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet kaur. Jemi stood tall and pulled of an absolute heist to knock the Aussies out of the tournament. 

Then the rain-delayed final. Shefali Verma, the last minute replacement stepped up this time. After a stroke filled 87, she returned with the ball and picked up 2 crucial wickets as India stylishly avenged the group stage defeat and beat the high flying proteas to win a home World Cup, 50 years after the then Prime Minister India Gandhi established an Indian Women's team. 

The memes, the insults, the taunts, the jokes…. All of it has been buried for the time being. The women have done what the men failed to do on that dark November night in 2023. And that headline is enough for all the young girls in the country to remind themselves- they are more than just being home - makers.