NEW DELHI: The legendary Sachin Tendulkar believes the ODI World Cup could be a watershed moment for women's cricket in India.
Indian women's cricket received a huge boost when the team reached the final of the 2017 World Cup in England. Yet, a global trophy still eludes the side, and Tendulkar feels that Harmanpreet Kaur and her teammates could change that as they chase the ultimate prize on home soil.
"I sense that women's cricket in India stands on the cusp of its own watershed moment. The upcoming ICC Women's World Cup will not just be about chasing a trophy; it will be about igniting countless dreams," Tendulkar wrote in an ICC column.
"Somewhere in Moga, a teenage girl might be clutching her bat tighter, hoping to emulate her idol Harmanpreet Kaur. In Sangli, another girl might be practicing her drives, daring to dream like Smriti Mandhana."
Harmanpreet first captured national attention with her stunning 171 against Australia in the 2017 World Cup semifinal - a knock that remains vivid in Tendulkar's memory even today.
"I still remember vividly Harmanpreet's magnificent 171 against Australia in the 2017 World Cup. It was not just an innings; it was a statement. The sheer audacity of her strokeplay, the clarity of her mind, and the courage in her heart took women's cricket in India into a new orbit.
"I believe that was the moment when many stopped seeing women's cricket as a sideshow—it became centre stage."
He is also hugely impressed by elegant left-hander Mandhana.
"There is a silken grace to her batting, a natural rhythm in the way she times the ball. Her ability to find gaps with such elegance reminds me of the finest in the game."
The ICC event at home provides women's cricket the platform it needs, said the cricketing legend.
"Now, the sport has the opportunity to transcend barriers - of gender, of perception, of accessibility. The little girl with a plastic bat in a small town must feel that the world is open to her, just as I felt after watching a triumphant Team India in 1983."
He also praised current ICC chairman Jay Shah for supporting women's cricket in India.
"A lot of credit must go to Jay Shah, who, during his time as BCCI secretary, pushed for equal match fees for men and women and laid the foundation for the Women's Premier League," Tendulkar added.
