INDIAN WOMEN’S CRICKET ENDS 2023 ON A NEW HIGH WHILE ROHIT’S MEN FLOUNDER IN SA

The year 2023 is ending with mixed feelings for cricket fans in India. While the men’s team brought heartbreak for cricket lovers with their debacle in South Africa, their women’s counterparts rung in a lot of hope, joy and good cheer with their terrific performances in the final fortnight of the year. Albeit momentarily but the spotlight in Indian cricket has surely shifted from the men’s to the women’s team, which has rewritten history with its stellar show in Test matches against England and Australia. In stark contrast, the Indian men’s team suffered a massive defeat in their first Test against the Proteas losing by an innings.

The women cricketers showcased class and resilience, capturing the hearts of fans across the nation. The fact that for many of the Indian girls, these matches were the first Tests of their careers is a statement in itself about women’s cricket in the longer format. Even Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur had played only 3 tests before the match against England which India won with a huge 347 run margin. In a commanding display with both bat and ball, Indian eves, led by the exceptional off spinner, Deepti Sharma, clinched a record victory against England at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium.

Deepti’s extraordinary figures of 5 for 7 in the first innings and 4 more wickets in the second innings earned her the Player-ofthe-Match honours. Apart from Deepti there were no stand out performances but the win was a result of a complete team effort where everyone contributed and chipped in with vital feats. As many as 4 Indian batters hit fifties in the first innings of the Test to set up the match by posting an imposing first-innings total of 428 which enabled the Indian team to ultimately register a humongous 347-run victory - the biggest margin in the history of women’s Tests!

The next match against Australia saw a similar allround effort where India won on the fourth and final day with 8 wickets. After a paltry first innings, the Aussie girls fought back valiantly in the second innings with the bat. But after taking the lead they fell to the brilliance of Sneh Rana and Rajeshwari Gayakwad, who orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, spinning Australia out and securing a historic win. This triumph marked Indian Women’s first-ever Test victory against Australia, breaking an 11-match streak dating back to 1977.

The consistent performances of the women’s team highlight the depth and talent present in Indian women’s cricket. Cricket experts believe that these will serve as inspiration for aspiring female cricketers across the country and reinforce the notion that they can compete at the highest level. It will also be a reminder to the men’s team, which is undergoing a transition itself, on how to achieve the fusion of the rise of young talents along with the leadership of experienced players!

The Indian men’s team faced a tough challenge in their first Test against South Africa. Regarded as the ‘final frontier’ for Team India, the African nation has not been a happy hunting ground in tests. India has never won a series in South Africa and this was seen as a perfect opportunity to break the jinx. But it wasn’t to be! The team looked underprepared and was blown away by the African pacers on a track which provided help to the bowlers.

Barring a brilliant comeback century by K.L.Rahul in the first innings and a superb fifty by Kohli in the second innings, no batsman looked prepared to grind out against the hostile pacers of the Proteas. Even Indian bowling, in the absence of Mohammad Shami, was below par. It was only Jasprit Bumrah who exercised some control over the South African batters and picked up 4 wickets.

While setbacks are a part of the game, the crushing loss provides an opportunity for reflection and improvement. Fans will hope that the team will undoubtedly analyze the areas that need attention and bounce back stronger in the next match. The loss under 3 days gives both teams a longer rest between the two Test matches as the next one begins in the new year on 3rd January.

As the dust settles on the contrasting narratives of triumph and challenge for the Indian cricket teams, there emerges a beacon of hope for the future. Resounding victories for the women’s team, marked by historic achievements and a paradigm shift in perception, signal a promising trajectory.

Looking ahead to 2024, excitement surrounds the second edition of Women’s Premier League, a significant milestone for women’s cricket. The fervent wish of most women cricketers though is still for playing more test matches which allow the players to showcase their skills better and will hopefully propel the sport to greater heights in the near future!

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Siddhaarth Mahan The writer is a specialist on Sports and Cinema who works as an actor in the Hindi film industry