September 29, 2025 • 24 mins
Amit Kamath, Vinayakk Mohanarangan and Venkata Krishna B discuss the ICC Women’s World Cup starting on September 30 in Guwahati. Can India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, create history by winning their first ever title? And is there truly home advantage?
Produced by Ichha Sharma
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
Produced by Ichha Sharma
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Well, the World Cup season is upon us and the
Indian women's cricket team welcomes the rest of the world
to India as they play co hosts along with Sri
Lankat for the twenty twenty five Women's World Cup. We're
going to preview that in this special episode. This is
me Ahmad Kamath and joining me is nak Mohana Rangan,
(00:26):
who is fairly safe to say that he is one
of the experts in women's crickets in the country at
the moment. What is it about the Women's World Cup?
You know, because the stats are kind of slightly difficult
to understand. You know, the Women's World Cup has happened
twelve times so far. Australia have won it seven times,
England I won it four times, New Zealand the one time.
(00:49):
India have never won it. In the twelve editions that
it has happened India have hosted. This is the fourth
time that it's going to happen in India. With nineteen
seventy eight, nineteen seventy seven, thirteen teen bar we've already
hosted it. There's a full time hosting, but the closest
we've come is two thousand and five and then in
(01:09):
twenty seventeen where we ended up as runners up. Two
part question for you, what is it that India have
lacked in previous editions? I mean it's kind of a given, no,
every time there is a World Cup, the Indian team
is always considered as a front runner in whatever format.
But why is it that the Indians haven't won it?
(01:30):
That's the first part? And second, does this current Indian
team have it in them to kind of go all
the way and win the title this time around?
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (01:38):
The starts pretty much sum up the story of the
World Cup so far. In the women's Odia format, Austria
I been the dominant force right from the start. One
just little interesting trivia to drop before we go out
to the current setup and all that. The first women's
World Cup actually happened two years before the first men's
World Cup. Nineteen seventy three was the first women's World Cup.
By that time, the men's Odia World Coup hadn't happened.
(02:00):
Most of y'all would know that first men's World Cup
started in seventy five. It's at a little bit of
an interesting defay. The tournament has gone through a lot
of changes, ups and downs, But the last few editions
have been like a proper ICC event under the ICC
banner and you know, hosted like a proper major event.
I still remember I think twenty seventeen was probably the
turning point where we didn't even have proper coverage for
(02:21):
all matches at that point of time, Like I know,
a few matches had DRS, few matches didn't. Not all
matches were like TV produce and all that, which we're
talking about eight years back. But twenty twenty two, the
last edition which was postponed by a year because of COVID,
and now twenty twenty five both up full fledged events,
top teams competing in the world, all matches broadcast, all
matches having DRS. So it's on the upswing and it's
(02:44):
now like it's as good as the marquee event in
the women's calendar as it has been in the men's
calendar for the longest period of time. For Australia. Yeah,
I mean Australia have seven time champions. They come into
this as a favorites. Again, where did India go wrong
in the past two thousand and five years, Like a
could have been a breakthrough when they reached the final,
it was under Metai Raj. Obviously not much was expected
of them. That was almost like a fairy tale run
(03:06):
to the final that edition for the Indian team, but
they came short in the final because Australia were just
another level they. I mean, it was a very one
sided final as it turned out, ninety eight run defeat
for India. But it was a creditable achievement that India
had reached the final back then because they didn't have
that sort of expertise that Australia had had. But twenty
seventeen was a different story. India were minutes away from
(03:28):
winning the title at Lodge. I'm sure most of you
all would remember that final against England and the semi
finals against Australia is probably one of the most talked
about matches in women's cricket, not just Indian women's cricket,
in women's cricket period. Right when Herman Prez scored one
hundred and seventy one not out and knocked out Australia
and Australia losing in semi finals was like a remarkable
thing at that point of time, and then India came
(03:49):
so close in the final at Laws and had that
collapse towards the end of the run chase when victory
was in sites and just it didn't work out. So yeah,
a few reasons why they've a first runner was because
they didn't have the structures in place probably at that
time to challenge Australia truly. But twenty seventeen things that
started to look up, but the final was just a
case of not holding their nerves, so twice they've come short.
(04:12):
Since the twenty seventeen final, things have been on the rise.
I mean, India have been one of the more consistent
teams in the world, but I mean Australia are just
another level still. They are the team to beat and
they will start favorites for this one as well.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Right, Unek you said that, you know, the India didn't
maybe have the structures in place before twenty seventeen. Now
do you feel that India are in a sense perfectly
poised to win their first ever title. I was reading
some comments by you know, women's cricket legend Diana Dulcie,
who said that, you know, this World Cup is the
one that could change the history and geography of women's
(04:45):
cricket do you feel that if this team goes on
to win, it will have the same kind of impact
that the eighty three World Cup did for men's cricket
In a sense.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Yeah, that is a hope.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Even twenty seventeen could have been that moment actually, because
twenty seventeen India was still not a fancy team. They
just played that one blinder of a match against Australia
and semi finals and were so close to lifting that trophy.
In my honest opinion, if twenty seventeen had been a win,
that would have been the nineteen to eighty three moment
because India were not that big of a force back then.
(05:18):
Like India were like the Couples Devils were also on
the rise, they were not exactly as pear the odds.
They were outright outsiders. They had no business winning it,
but the team had some good results in the lead up.
But yeah, that eighty three completely changed, so India is
now an established power. So that is the one difference
that I see between that eighty three parallel, and the
impact would probably be similar if India do win this
(05:39):
World Cup. But I think India are coming into this
tournament as somewhat of a level competitor, not level competitor,
but a proper challenger for Australia. So it's not like
it would be the complete odds of fairy tale run
that it was for India to win the World Cup
in nineteen eighty, so that way the peril is slightly off.
But because the structures are in place for the Indian
women's team already. The WPL has run successfully for three years.
(06:03):
India have done well in the T twenty editions on
and off, you know, they gain close shapes. Under nineteen
World Cup, India have the once just started after COVID.
India won both editions, so that's already a good sign
for the future. Like the younger players have a better
platform than it used to be ever the case in
the history of immen's cricket in India, So yeah, in
that sense, they're probably coming into the tournament as not
(06:25):
an rank outsider, so that's a little different and the
structures are we it could always be better, there's no
doubt about that. Footing that women's cricket gets in India
is still, of course not at the same level as
men's cricket. BC have done some good things, but I
think it's still not at the level where it can be,
but things have certainly improved, so they're coming in with
a good chance of you know, trying and upsetting Australia.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Yeah, when I spoke about the WPL, you know, so
I wanted to understand the impact that the WPL has
had on Indian cricketers because you know, every time we
talk about leagues like the IPL, or even hockey or
India League for that matter, we see that when Indian
players get to you know, share dressing rooms with you know,
legends from outside, that is when the aura kind of
(07:08):
fades away. That is when these guys start to realize that, Okay,
this person that I usually play against on the field,
they are not gods, They're just humans like us. You
get to talk to them, the aura kind of fades away.
This whole infallibility that you have that.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Kind of goes away.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Maybe the WPL has done the same thing for Indian
women's cricketers.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
It's probably too early to say that it has managed
to do that, but there are definitely signs that it's
on the way to achieving that equality with the best
in the world. Right, equality in terms of that you know,
you can go to to toe with the best in
the world. I think the biggest example from the WPL
I can give you is, you know, someone like Shri
Taranny and Kranti God not necessarily would have been in
(07:50):
the Indian team radar this early in their careers if
not for the exposure of WPL Sree Charity plays for
the Deli Capitals.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
She's just played I think a couple of matches in.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
The WPLF memory serves me right, but it was good
enough to impress Meg Lanning, the Daily Capital's captain, the
former Australian captain. Their coaching staff were very impressed with
she journey that they were able to actually bring her
in just for the final after she played maybe one or.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Two matches in the league.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
They were brave enough to trust her in such a
big match, and you know she was a teenager. So
something like that is an example. Kranthi God is on
the back of beyond in Madha Pradesh, very remote sort
of background, and for her to break out, I mean,
she might have still made it through the domestic cricket
on all that, but the WPL even in the brief
glimpses that we saw off he showed us that she's
a proper talent, and you know, she's been fast tracked
(08:33):
to the national team. And in that ODI series that
we played in England recently, the last match in the
series desired, she.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Picked up six wickets.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
You know, that's not something you'd see all the time,
to pick up six wickets against one of the best
sides in the world. She's already made quite an impression
in the short time that she's been with the team.
And she's quite young too, So those two are like
the immediate examples in the current Indian squad for the
World Cup, where you know, WPL's impact has been evident.
One person who has not been in the World Cup
squad but has made the most of the l is
(09:00):
Shafali Varma. You know, considered one of the brightest talents
in Indian criket for so long. She's been struggling a
little bit internationally. Is not part of the setup. She's
not even in the reserve for this World Cup actually,
but she's benefited immensely from WPL. You know, just opening
the batting with Meg Lanning. That partnership has been probably
one of the stories of the IPL WPL where you know,
the Australian captain, the legend who's done it all, and
(09:22):
this young Indian prodigy learning of and feeding off this
aura of this Australian superstar and both doing really well
as as a partnership admiring each other. So these sort
of stories are plenty just from three seasons of WPL.
Whether it has done enough to bridge the gap with Australia,
that is where the question is. I mean, if India
do win the World Cup this year, then it can
probably definitively say that whatever it's set out to achieve,
(09:44):
you know, it's been complete. But I still have my doubts.
I think it will take a little bit more time.
I mean it's not like Australia are left behind just
because there is a WPL, because WBBL is still seen
as probably one of the best women's leagues in the world.
So yeah, but wl certainly helped Indian close that gap.
And it's a scene as the finishing school before international cricket.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Right.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
You spoke about you know, two players, you spoke about
three journey, you spoke about Kanti Gold, But talk to
us about the rest of the squad as well. It's
led by armand preedco. There's obviously Smittymandana as the vice
captain also, and there are like stars like Jemima Rodriggs.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Who were there.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Just talk to us about what makes this team kind
of tick.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Interesting because like I remember the last World Cup selection
just bet twenty twenty two, that there was a big
controversy when you know Jemima was left out. The squad
just didn't feel balanced. Though they are the We knew
that Mitali and Julen were playing their last World Cup,
that that star quality was there. Smithy was already an
established player, Herman was struggling with reform before the World Cup,
so things were not quite clear the last time around
(10:47):
during the World Cup and they ended up missing out
on you in the semi finals, which was an underparwer
performance in New Zealand. This time when the squad was announced,
there could be a couple of things that you could say, Okay,
this would have been that would have been better, But
largely you could to argue with the squad, which is
probably a good sign if you're not able to poke
too many holes in the squad. There is a little
bit of problem in the bowling area. I think the
lack of experience. Is a concern whether the bowlers are
(11:10):
good enough to last this sort of a tournament or
such a long perio out of time under the pressure
of being the home team. I am a little bit
skeptical about that. But the batting is if the batting clicks,
they can cover up a little bit of those bowling issues.
Because the batting has been in tremendous form, thanks largely
to Smithy.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Mandana the world number one at the moment.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
She's been in unbelievable form over the last two years
in ODIs I think four centuries last year, four centuries
already this year. She's probably going to add to that
entirely during the World Cup, you can say with a
fair amount of certainty. So yeah, I think Smithy is
absolutely the key for batting. Prittika has formed a good
partnership with her. The batting depth in general is good.
But yeah, a little bit of a concern would be
(11:49):
there is a little bit of similarity among the top
four in that they all take their time to get going.
And yeah, so Richard and Jemima in the middle water
become very important. But the batting largely seems settled. If
anything is a concern is the bowling, so we'll have
to see how that goes. But the squad largely has
a settled look. There had been a lot of chopping
and changing since Amon Muzumdar took over. There are plenty
(12:09):
of debuts handed out. I think they were searching for
this pace bowling option and the left tomp spinner that
they were hoping to find, and I think eventually they
settled down Street, Journey and Grante just before this World
Cup cycle began. So yeah, the squad largely has a
settled look. They should be able to beat most of
the teams, but yeah, whether they're good enough to beat
Australia is what we need to see.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Wenoik, It's very interesting that you mentioned, you know, Jemima
Rodriguez being left out in twenty twenty two because I
remember right after she was left out from the squad
and just before the World Cup she had turned out
for a local ring hockey tournament in Willingdon Jymkanna and
I was there just watching her leave defenders on their
backsides on that local ring hockey thing. She's incredibly talented
(12:51):
in whatever sport she decides to play. That much was
for that day but just that that was just a
really pointless digression. And we'd like to well Krishna Bee,
who's been obviously doing other things because he also covers BCCI,
so very hectic day for him today, he's taken the
time out to join us today. Welcome to the podcast.
(13:14):
You were also there for the captain's press conference. Can
you just talk about that a little bit maybe. What
was the sense that you got from that press conference
about the World Cup itself?
Speaker 4 (13:23):
Yeah, it was like this is stage feeling, you know,
like the World Cup? Was that?
Speaker 5 (13:27):
I mean, like we mentioned in the copy. Actually, to
be honest, it was a very the captain's the tournament
press conference and the photo shoot is what's at the
ball tolling for the tournament, right, we had a like
coming a different sort of there are like a photoshoot
separately taken over in Bangalore and as well as in Columbo,
and then it has joined together. It was like probably
the first time official photograph of the World Cup was
(13:49):
like sort of a photoshop done, like passed up. It
was like just sure, like how like there is like
plenty of fiction already in a World Cup with just
has ten teams, right, there's absolutely there's nothing world and
it just like teams and then you have this thing
going on.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
It was like wells a little bit.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
But what was also referraent tocy us like the amount
of coverage and that you would like to be that
the game rightfully deserves. That was like very hardness because
in the past twenty thirteen when the World Cup happened,
very few people had a clue. Okay, like listen, the
World Cup is happening this time. It's not like BCS
has like paint of the town right with the promotions
and stuff or the sec in this case to.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Be much more precise. But there is like a lot
of things that you can see.
Speaker 5 (14:29):
Yes, Bangalo has missed out unfortunately, but you look at
like social media or like different places, you could see
the excitement. And that's not like all the captains spoke
about like they were like mentioning about how the game
is popularity has increased in the recent times and how
much like Indian France in general have like just supporting
the men's team, but I also like started to follow
the women's cricket with great interest. So these are the
(14:50):
things that stood out from the players, right, Like even
with Alzah.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
Heally hears like they don't like they.
Speaker 5 (14:56):
Were like a completely like in a different sort of environment.
They thought okay, like okay they are thanks to WPL.
That barrier of like being different is also like commonly
gone off right, Like Alisa was like even more popular
than Harmon if you ask me, because she got like
some good round of collapse and applause and she was
the one that a lot of influences around.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
That's what I'm trying to follow.
Speaker 5 (15:15):
So in all others, well, so Women's Cricket World Cup,
it should have like if banners had been there, it'd
have been your more like just for the because band
is truly like after Mumbai, it's truly like a multi
sports sery. You entertaining even it will be like perfect.
So that sense bangre missing out sort of a little bit.
It's just like a tatler. But I think still you're
going to have a really good World Cup coming up, right.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
WET also wanted to understand what have been your observations
about this Indian team, what kind of makes them take
what is the one thing that you feel that holds
them in good start to win their first ever title.
Speaker 5 (15:49):
You were like already decided that you've got to be
the World Cup, right, so you push.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
It this way, Like I feel like it's the law
of averages. It says that love the title. Yeah, I know,
I get it.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Yeah, I mean why not.
Speaker 5 (16:03):
Yeah, of course, Like let me tell you, like the
Indian women's team, they really got like a gore. I feel, yes,
I really think India will definitely at some point with
Shafai Oma, but I think they still have the.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
Vabita to overcome her absence.
Speaker 5 (16:19):
I feel because even though some of the venues they
are playing is completly new to them as well at home,
they're not used to like different, I mean moving on
to different conditions. It's in the smart in a tom
like World Cup at home. But having said that, I
think they still have the team that if they really
really like plan and like if they executed ticket that
I think that India can like really really overcome even
(16:40):
the Australia on any given day. There's absolutely no doubt
about it. The onely thing is like they need to
like just overcome the emotional friend. For me, what I
feel I was like India in many ways are women's
team just the middle of the Bangladesh cricket team in
some ways because there's like a lot of emotion involved.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
They want to like get there, but they're not able
to do it.
Speaker 5 (16:58):
There is like a lot of expression or the passion
to like okay, not even passion.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
Is the wrong world over here, but there's a lot.
Speaker 5 (17:05):
Of enthusations for them to cross the line, but they're
not able to do it often like burdled by the
expectations and emotions. So if they can hold the emotions
a bit in check and say, like, okay, listen, we
have got to finish the job. You'll just not get
carried away by the occasion or the anything.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
I think India can like really really go all the way.
I think they have the team to do it, right.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Can I talk to us about the format? There are
eight teams or four of them make it to the
semi final. Does that kind of make India's job easier
to make it to the semi finals at least?
Speaker 3 (17:34):
Well if it was, then they'd amitted to the semi
finals last edition as well. It is actually quite a
tough format, I mean so, I mean, obviously the peril
is the Men's World Cup that we saw in twenty
twenty three, where you know, India were near unbeatable roach
mus side, we're unbeatable during the weak stage, pretty decent
in the semis. But I mean it's essentially two knockouts
you're looking at right over a month. I mean, there
(17:55):
might be virtual knockouts based on like where you are
in the table and a well, but it's otherwise the
pretty for I mean, I'm not a big fan of
this format honestly, but it does ensure that the creed
comes out on top because over an eighteen round robin
league phase, you're not going to have too many surprises
coming out. I mean like Afghanistan for example, right in
the men's World Cup that we saw they should have
(18:16):
in a World Cup where they played so well, they
should have been one of the contenders. But the format
just doesn't allow for that sort of a fairy tale
run to happen. So on merit, so India should be
able to make it to the first target, like reacing
the semi finals, because currently I think they're the third
best team in the world by the ODA rankings. They're
just coming off a series win in England, who are
now number two, and then a pretty decent series against
(18:38):
Australia recently at home, which they lost to one. You know,
they did manage to be Australia once in that series,
and rather convincingly. The third match was a pretty special
one where you know, four to twelve was nearly chased
down by India with the three sixteen nine. If I'm
not mistaken, more than seven hundred runs in that match,
which again showed India can you know, push Australia all
the way. So yeah, semifinals is a given all most
(19:00):
If that doesn't happen, then I would imagine heads would roll.
So the format itself lends itself to the top teams
coming out at the end of the league stage. So
I would expect Australia to top the pool easily. India
and England should be there and thereabouts. It's for the
fourth place where it's probably going to be quite an
interesting tussle. Ic South Africa probably the favorites for that spot.
But yeah, I mean Sri Lanka playing their matches in
(19:22):
Colombo is one to keep an eye on. They might
pull a surprise or two here and there. Yeah, So
that format then it's just a shootout over three matches.
Who does well on those three big days, the two
semi finals and finals that anybody's anybody's guests. If India
managed to award Australia and get to the final, yeah
India Australia final again two years down the line after
that November heartbreak.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
It's going to be interesting to see how this one goes.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
I would like to ask Wenkutt one thing when you
briefly mentioned the venues for the World Cup, you know,
just the fact that it's all pretty out there except
day Partial. None of them have really a recent history
among Indian venues of hosting. For me personally, it kind
of nikes it's the home World Cup advantage for India,
Like I don't honestly see if India have the advantage
(20:05):
of being hosts.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
Is that something that you over on totally?
Speaker 5 (20:08):
And I because that's not from what a Harman treat
mentioned the other day. That's what they feeling I got
because she was like referring constantly how she's gonna like
look at data from the men's cricket game and stuff,
which was like I just said, like how much they're
far into over their home conditions, right see, And these
venues are not easy indoor everybody knows the high scoring venue.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
Right, we have seen in men's game as.
Speaker 5 (20:29):
Well, the ball actually travels up quicker than most parts
in India.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
Over there in India and it's a very small ground
and why.
Speaker 5 (20:34):
Is that again completely different venue at the same time,
again it's a small it's like relatively it's like a
venue where you can see a lot of success.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
Well, so these are the things that they may get
used to the pictures.
Speaker 5 (20:45):
But the outfield and the boundary size is something that
you don't discount at all. We all thought okay and
the bath twenty twenty three India Australia. Everyone who mentioned
India's spin conditions spin conditions, But there are something else
that Australia really really thought.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
It's going to pay them.
Speaker 5 (21:01):
There's a big boundary sizes on the big outfield just
remainded them of the mcg right. So I think, like
a lot of other teams, we feel like okay, like this,
even India or like not at home in their own conditions,
we will.
Speaker 4 (21:13):
Have a chance.
Speaker 5 (21:13):
So I think that's where like really India will miss
a venue like Bangalore because Bangalore also it's a small again,
it's a small round, but you get used to it.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
Right.
Speaker 5 (21:22):
You have Simana who's like, we feel totally at home
over there, and even with the remaining other players because
what was said done, they would have been there to
c in Center of Excellence or the earlier National Cricket
Academy and would have pleaded some practice which is whatever
over there at Genesaw.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
But that is not the case.
Speaker 5 (21:38):
And now it's just the d by Potter, which is
like could work to their favor others again, go Harty again,
you never know what is going to happen at this
time of the year because it's a place where the
because of it's a slightly different time zone if we
are being very open about it, but it still fits
in the Indian time zone.
Speaker 4 (21:54):
So gets the guts. Is like if it is an
early start.
Speaker 5 (21:57):
And I mean it could make a lot of difference,
but definitely play all the games day night, so when
the conditions like begin to the twilight period could come
a lot early in goat right. So these are things
they need to like sort of like figure out. I
think I'm more Zumdar. I think the supposed staff have
to like just like calm them down and saying like okay, listen,
these are things we just have to accept it. You
can't like sit there and like say, speak about it.
(22:19):
I thinks you are to accept it and then like, okay,
confront it. I think that will be the way to
go for India when.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Yeah, I mean that's something that I've been thinking about
quite a lot as well. The venues, I don't know
if the pc A or ICC could have done a
better job to give I mean, you host the World Cup,
you would want more advantage, which I'm struggling to see
here for India. Honestly, they're probably more at home at
Colombo than the other venues, played more in.
Speaker 5 (22:42):
The last one year when India played the Bilators at home.
They should have played in these venues to start off with.
That's where the planning starts, right, That's where like, yeah,
that's where they would have feel like, Okay, the mens
team won't have such this thing at all, if we're
being honest, they will only get a lot everything right,
So that should be.
Speaker 4 (22:59):
The thing if you even leader to the contigue of
the work.
Speaker 5 (23:01):
If you see me and stream had played everywhere, it's
not like we haven't like sort of played in the
venue for a long time. So these are minor things
World Cup. That's what the home World Cup is supposed
to give you an advantage. But I don't think India
over here have a total advertise. And again WPLS further
narrowed the familiarity I mean unfamiliarity treaty. There's no such
(23:21):
thing call now, especially for Australia, England and News and
prayers exactly.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
Yeah, it's slightly downing note to finish the podcast. If
you have a cheery farewell message, I think that probably
is better for a sign off.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Things must be really bad on this podcast that you're
looking to me for cherry sign of notes. Well, the
thirteenth World Cup essentially starts this week and India are
one of the favorites, as Vinak has pointed out. Hopefully,
if India can manage to will as Diana Adulga has
pointed out, it will change the history and geography of
(23:55):
women's cricket. So yeah, hoping for that. I think that's
the best you're going to get out of me. Well,
on that note, thank you so much for listening. Do
check out all of our coverage of the Women's World
Cup on our website and in the newspaper. Also, we'll
be back next week with another episode of Game Time podcast.
Thank you for listening.
Speaker 6 (24:17):
You were listening to Express Ports by the Indian Express.
This week's show was edited and mixed by Seshawar and
produced by Meshahan Bargev. If you like the show, then
do subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. You
can also recommend the show to someone you think we'll
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Speaker 4 (24:33):
It's the best.
Speaker 6 (24:33):
Way for people to get to know about us. You
can also tweet us at Express Podcasts and write to
us at podcasts at Indian Express dot com.
Well, the World Cup season is upon us and the
Indian women's cricket team welcomes the rest of the world
to India as they play co hosts along with Sri
Lankat for the twenty twenty five Women's World Cup. We're
going to preview that in this special episode. This is
me Ahmad Kamath and joining me is nak Mohana Rangan,
(00:26):
who is fairly safe to say that he is one
of the experts in women's crickets in the country at
the moment. What is it about the Women's World Cup?
You know, because the stats are kind of slightly difficult
to understand. You know, the Women's World Cup has happened
twelve times so far. Australia have won it seven times,
England I won it four times, New Zealand the one time.
(00:49):
India have never won it. In the twelve editions that
it has happened India have hosted. This is the fourth
time that it's going to happen in India. With nineteen
seventy eight, nineteen seventy seven, thirteen teen bar we've already
hosted it. There's a full time hosting, but the closest
we've come is two thousand and five and then in
(01:09):
twenty seventeen where we ended up as runners up. Two
part question for you, what is it that India have
lacked in previous editions? I mean it's kind of a given, no,
every time there is a World Cup, the Indian team
is always considered as a front runner in whatever format.
But why is it that the Indians haven't won it?
(01:30):
That's the first part? And second, does this current Indian
team have it in them to kind of go all
the way and win the title this time around?
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (01:38):
The starts pretty much sum up the story of the
World Cup so far. In the women's Odia format, Austria
I been the dominant force right from the start. One
just little interesting trivia to drop before we go out
to the current setup and all that. The first women's
World Cup actually happened two years before the first men's
World Cup. Nineteen seventy three was the first women's World Cup.
By that time, the men's Odia World Coup hadn't happened.
(02:00):
Most of y'all would know that first men's World Cup
started in seventy five. It's at a little bit of
an interesting defay. The tournament has gone through a lot
of changes, ups and downs, But the last few editions
have been like a proper ICC event under the ICC
banner and you know, hosted like a proper major event.
I still remember I think twenty seventeen was probably the
turning point where we didn't even have proper coverage for
(02:21):
all matches at that point of time, Like I know,
a few matches had DRS, few matches didn't. Not all
matches were like TV produce and all that, which we're
talking about eight years back. But twenty twenty two, the
last edition which was postponed by a year because of COVID,
and now twenty twenty five both up full fledged events,
top teams competing in the world, all matches broadcast, all
matches having DRS. So it's on the upswing and it's
(02:44):
now like it's as good as the marquee event in
the women's calendar as it has been in the men's
calendar for the longest period of time. For Australia. Yeah,
I mean Australia have seven time champions. They come into
this as a favorites. Again, where did India go wrong
in the past two thousand and five years, Like a
could have been a breakthrough when they reached the final,
it was under Metai Raj. Obviously not much was expected
of them. That was almost like a fairy tale run
(03:06):
to the final that edition for the Indian team, but
they came short in the final because Australia were just
another level they. I mean, it was a very one
sided final as it turned out, ninety eight run defeat
for India. But it was a creditable achievement that India
had reached the final back then because they didn't have
that sort of expertise that Australia had had. But twenty
seventeen was a different story. India were minutes away from
(03:28):
winning the title at Lodge. I'm sure most of you
all would remember that final against England and the semi
finals against Australia is probably one of the most talked
about matches in women's cricket, not just Indian women's cricket,
in women's cricket period. Right when Herman Prez scored one
hundred and seventy one not out and knocked out Australia
and Australia losing in semi finals was like a remarkable
thing at that point of time, and then India came
(03:49):
so close in the final at Laws and had that
collapse towards the end of the run chase when victory
was in sites and just it didn't work out. So yeah,
a few reasons why they've a first runner was because
they didn't have the structures in place probably at that
time to challenge Australia truly. But twenty seventeen things that
started to look up, but the final was just a
case of not holding their nerves, so twice they've come short.
(04:12):
Since the twenty seventeen final, things have been on the rise.
I mean, India have been one of the more consistent
teams in the world, but I mean Australia are just
another level still. They are the team to beat and
they will start favorites for this one as well.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Right, Unek you said that, you know, the India didn't
maybe have the structures in place before twenty seventeen. Now
do you feel that India are in a sense perfectly
poised to win their first ever title. I was reading
some comments by you know, women's cricket legend Diana Dulcie,
who said that, you know, this World Cup is the
one that could change the history and geography of women's
(04:45):
cricket do you feel that if this team goes on
to win, it will have the same kind of impact
that the eighty three World Cup did for men's cricket
In a sense.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Yeah, that is a hope.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Even twenty seventeen could have been that moment actually, because
twenty seventeen India was still not a fancy team. They
just played that one blinder of a match against Australia
and semi finals and were so close to lifting that trophy.
In my honest opinion, if twenty seventeen had been a win,
that would have been the nineteen to eighty three moment
because India were not that big of a force back then.
(05:18):
Like India were like the Couples Devils were also on
the rise, they were not exactly as pear the odds.
They were outright outsiders. They had no business winning it,
but the team had some good results in the lead up.
But yeah, that eighty three completely changed, so India is
now an established power. So that is the one difference
that I see between that eighty three parallel, and the
impact would probably be similar if India do win this
(05:39):
World Cup. But I think India are coming into this
tournament as somewhat of a level competitor, not level competitor,
but a proper challenger for Australia. So it's not like
it would be the complete odds of fairy tale run
that it was for India to win the World Cup
in nineteen eighty, so that way the peril is slightly off.
But because the structures are in place for the Indian
women's team already. The WPL has run successfully for three years.
(06:03):
India have done well in the T twenty editions on
and off, you know, they gain close shapes. Under nineteen
World Cup, India have the once just started after COVID.
India won both editions, so that's already a good sign
for the future. Like the younger players have a better
platform than it used to be ever the case in
the history of immen's cricket in India, So yeah, in
that sense, they're probably coming into the tournament as not
(06:25):
an rank outsider, so that's a little different and the
structures are we it could always be better, there's no
doubt about that. Footing that women's cricket gets in India
is still, of course not at the same level as
men's cricket. BC have done some good things, but I
think it's still not at the level where it can be,
but things have certainly improved, so they're coming in with
a good chance of you know, trying and upsetting Australia.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Yeah, when I spoke about the WPL, you know, so
I wanted to understand the impact that the WPL has
had on Indian cricketers because you know, every time we
talk about leagues like the IPL, or even hockey or
India League for that matter, we see that when Indian
players get to you know, share dressing rooms with you know,
legends from outside, that is when the aura kind of
(07:08):
fades away. That is when these guys start to realize that, Okay,
this person that I usually play against on the field,
they are not gods, They're just humans like us. You
get to talk to them, the aura kind of fades away.
This whole infallibility that you have that.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Kind of goes away.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Maybe the WPL has done the same thing for Indian
women's cricketers.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
It's probably too early to say that it has managed
to do that, but there are definitely signs that it's
on the way to achieving that equality with the best
in the world. Right, equality in terms of that you know,
you can go to to toe with the best in
the world. I think the biggest example from the WPL
I can give you is, you know, someone like Shri
Taranny and Kranti God not necessarily would have been in
(07:50):
the Indian team radar this early in their careers if
not for the exposure of WPL Sree Charity plays for
the Deli Capitals.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
She's just played I think a couple of matches in.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
The WPLF memory serves me right, but it was good
enough to impress Meg Lanning, the Daily Capital's captain, the
former Australian captain. Their coaching staff were very impressed with
she journey that they were able to actually bring her
in just for the final after she played maybe one or.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Two matches in the league.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
They were brave enough to trust her in such a
big match, and you know she was a teenager. So
something like that is an example. Kranthi God is on
the back of beyond in Madha Pradesh, very remote sort
of background, and for her to break out, I mean,
she might have still made it through the domestic cricket
on all that, but the WPL even in the brief
glimpses that we saw off he showed us that she's
a proper talent, and you know, she's been fast tracked
(08:33):
to the national team. And in that ODI series that
we played in England recently, the last match in the
series desired, she.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Picked up six wickets.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
You know, that's not something you'd see all the time,
to pick up six wickets against one of the best
sides in the world. She's already made quite an impression
in the short time that she's been with the team.
And she's quite young too, So those two are like
the immediate examples in the current Indian squad for the
World Cup, where you know, WPL's impact has been evident.
One person who has not been in the World Cup
squad but has made the most of the l is
(09:00):
Shafali Varma. You know, considered one of the brightest talents
in Indian criket for so long. She's been struggling a
little bit internationally. Is not part of the setup. She's
not even in the reserve for this World Cup actually,
but she's benefited immensely from WPL. You know, just opening
the batting with Meg Lanning. That partnership has been probably
one of the stories of the IPL WPL where you know,
the Australian captain, the legend who's done it all, and
(09:22):
this young Indian prodigy learning of and feeding off this
aura of this Australian superstar and both doing really well
as as a partnership admiring each other. So these sort
of stories are plenty just from three seasons of WPL.
Whether it has done enough to bridge the gap with Australia,
that is where the question is. I mean, if India
do win the World Cup this year, then it can
probably definitively say that whatever it's set out to achieve,
(09:44):
you know, it's been complete. But I still have my doubts.
I think it will take a little bit more time.
I mean it's not like Australia are left behind just
because there is a WPL, because WBBL is still seen
as probably one of the best women's leagues in the world.
So yeah, but wl certainly helped Indian close that gap.
And it's a scene as the finishing school before international cricket.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Right.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
You spoke about you know, two players, you spoke about
three journey, you spoke about Kanti Gold, But talk to
us about the rest of the squad as well. It's
led by armand preedco. There's obviously Smittymandana as the vice
captain also, and there are like stars like Jemima Rodriggs.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Who were there.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Just talk to us about what makes this team kind
of tick.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Interesting because like I remember the last World Cup selection
just bet twenty twenty two, that there was a big
controversy when you know Jemima was left out. The squad
just didn't feel balanced. Though they are the We knew
that Mitali and Julen were playing their last World Cup,
that that star quality was there. Smithy was already an
established player, Herman was struggling with reform before the World Cup,
so things were not quite clear the last time around
(10:47):
during the World Cup and they ended up missing out
on you in the semi finals, which was an underparwer
performance in New Zealand. This time when the squad was announced,
there could be a couple of things that you could say, Okay,
this would have been that would have been better, But
largely you could to argue with the squad, which is
probably a good sign if you're not able to poke
too many holes in the squad. There is a little
bit of problem in the bowling area. I think the
lack of experience. Is a concern whether the bowlers are
(11:10):
good enough to last this sort of a tournament or
such a long perio out of time under the pressure
of being the home team. I am a little bit
skeptical about that. But the batting is if the batting clicks,
they can cover up a little bit of those bowling issues.
Because the batting has been in tremendous form, thanks largely
to Smithy.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Mandana the world number one at the moment.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
She's been in unbelievable form over the last two years
in ODIs I think four centuries last year, four centuries
already this year. She's probably going to add to that
entirely during the World Cup, you can say with a
fair amount of certainty. So yeah, I think Smithy is
absolutely the key for batting. Prittika has formed a good
partnership with her. The batting depth in general is good.
But yeah, a little bit of a concern would be
(11:49):
there is a little bit of similarity among the top
four in that they all take their time to get going.
And yeah, so Richard and Jemima in the middle water
become very important. But the batting largely seems settled. If
anything is a concern is the bowling, so we'll have
to see how that goes. But the squad largely has
a settled look. There had been a lot of chopping
and changing since Amon Muzumdar took over. There are plenty
(12:09):
of debuts handed out. I think they were searching for
this pace bowling option and the left tomp spinner that
they were hoping to find, and I think eventually they
settled down Street, Journey and Grante just before this World
Cup cycle began. So yeah, the squad largely has a
settled look. They should be able to beat most of
the teams, but yeah, whether they're good enough to beat
Australia is what we need to see.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Wenoik, It's very interesting that you mentioned, you know, Jemima
Rodriguez being left out in twenty twenty two because I
remember right after she was left out from the squad
and just before the World Cup she had turned out
for a local ring hockey tournament in Willingdon Jymkanna and
I was there just watching her leave defenders on their
backsides on that local ring hockey thing. She's incredibly talented
(12:51):
in whatever sport she decides to play. That much was
for that day but just that that was just a
really pointless digression. And we'd like to well Krishna Bee,
who's been obviously doing other things because he also covers BCCI,
so very hectic day for him today, he's taken the
time out to join us today. Welcome to the podcast.
(13:14):
You were also there for the captain's press conference. Can
you just talk about that a little bit maybe. What
was the sense that you got from that press conference
about the World Cup itself?
Speaker 4 (13:23):
Yeah, it was like this is stage feeling, you know,
like the World Cup? Was that?
Speaker 5 (13:27):
I mean, like we mentioned in the copy. Actually, to
be honest, it was a very the captain's the tournament
press conference and the photo shoot is what's at the
ball tolling for the tournament, right, we had a like
coming a different sort of there are like a photoshoot
separately taken over in Bangalore and as well as in Columbo,
and then it has joined together. It was like probably
the first time official photograph of the World Cup was
(13:49):
like sort of a photoshop done, like passed up. It
was like just sure, like how like there is like
plenty of fiction already in a World Cup with just
has ten teams, right, there's absolutely there's nothing world and
it just like teams and then you have this thing
going on.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
It was like wells a little bit.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
But what was also referraent tocy us like the amount
of coverage and that you would like to be that
the game rightfully deserves. That was like very hardness because
in the past twenty thirteen when the World Cup happened,
very few people had a clue. Okay, like listen, the
World Cup is happening this time. It's not like BCS
has like paint of the town right with the promotions
and stuff or the sec in this case to.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Be much more precise. But there is like a lot
of things that you can see.
Speaker 5 (14:29):
Yes, Bangalo has missed out unfortunately, but you look at
like social media or like different places, you could see
the excitement. And that's not like all the captains spoke
about like they were like mentioning about how the game
is popularity has increased in the recent times and how
much like Indian France in general have like just supporting
the men's team, but I also like started to follow
the women's cricket with great interest. So these are the
(14:50):
things that stood out from the players, right, Like even
with Alzah.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
Heally hears like they don't like they.
Speaker 5 (14:56):
Were like a completely like in a different sort of environment.
They thought okay, like okay they are thanks to WPL.
That barrier of like being different is also like commonly
gone off right, Like Alisa was like even more popular
than Harmon if you ask me, because she got like
some good round of collapse and applause and she was
the one that a lot of influences around.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
That's what I'm trying to follow.
Speaker 5 (15:15):
So in all others, well, so Women's Cricket World Cup,
it should have like if banners had been there, it'd
have been your more like just for the because band
is truly like after Mumbai, it's truly like a multi
sports sery. You entertaining even it will be like perfect.
So that sense bangre missing out sort of a little bit.
It's just like a tatler. But I think still you're
going to have a really good World Cup coming up, right.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
WET also wanted to understand what have been your observations
about this Indian team, what kind of makes them take
what is the one thing that you feel that holds
them in good start to win their first ever title.
Speaker 5 (15:49):
You were like already decided that you've got to be
the World Cup, right, so you push.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
It this way, Like I feel like it's the law
of averages. It says that love the title. Yeah, I know,
I get it.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Yeah, I mean why not.
Speaker 5 (16:03):
Yeah, of course, Like let me tell you, like the
Indian women's team, they really got like a gore. I feel, yes,
I really think India will definitely at some point with
Shafai Oma, but I think they still have the.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
Vabita to overcome her absence.
Speaker 5 (16:19):
I feel because even though some of the venues they
are playing is completly new to them as well at home,
they're not used to like different, I mean moving on
to different conditions. It's in the smart in a tom
like World Cup at home. But having said that, I
think they still have the team that if they really
really like plan and like if they executed ticket that
I think that India can like really really overcome even
(16:40):
the Australia on any given day. There's absolutely no doubt
about it. The onely thing is like they need to
like just overcome the emotional friend. For me, what I
feel I was like India in many ways are women's
team just the middle of the Bangladesh cricket team in
some ways because there's like a lot of emotion involved.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
They want to like get there, but they're not able
to do it.
Speaker 5 (16:58):
There is like a lot of expression or the passion
to like okay, not even passion.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
Is the wrong world over here, but there's a lot.
Speaker 5 (17:05):
Of enthusations for them to cross the line, but they're
not able to do it often like burdled by the
expectations and emotions. So if they can hold the emotions
a bit in check and say, like, okay, listen, we
have got to finish the job. You'll just not get
carried away by the occasion or the anything.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
I think India can like really really go all the way.
I think they have the team to do it, right.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Can I talk to us about the format? There are
eight teams or four of them make it to the
semi final. Does that kind of make India's job easier
to make it to the semi finals at least?
Speaker 3 (17:34):
Well if it was, then they'd amitted to the semi
finals last edition as well. It is actually quite a
tough format, I mean so, I mean, obviously the peril
is the Men's World Cup that we saw in twenty
twenty three, where you know, India were near unbeatable roach
mus side, we're unbeatable during the weak stage, pretty decent
in the semis. But I mean it's essentially two knockouts
you're looking at right over a month. I mean, there
(17:55):
might be virtual knockouts based on like where you are
in the table and a well, but it's otherwise the
pretty for I mean, I'm not a big fan of
this format honestly, but it does ensure that the creed
comes out on top because over an eighteen round robin
league phase, you're not going to have too many surprises
coming out. I mean like Afghanistan for example, right in
the men's World Cup that we saw they should have
(18:16):
in a World Cup where they played so well, they
should have been one of the contenders. But the format
just doesn't allow for that sort of a fairy tale
run to happen. So on merit, so India should be
able to make it to the first target, like reacing
the semi finals, because currently I think they're the third
best team in the world by the ODA rankings. They're
just coming off a series win in England, who are
now number two, and then a pretty decent series against
(18:38):
Australia recently at home, which they lost to one. You know,
they did manage to be Australia once in that series,
and rather convincingly. The third match was a pretty special
one where you know, four to twelve was nearly chased
down by India with the three sixteen nine. If I'm
not mistaken, more than seven hundred runs in that match,
which again showed India can you know, push Australia all
the way. So yeah, semifinals is a given all most
(19:00):
If that doesn't happen, then I would imagine heads would roll.
So the format itself lends itself to the top teams
coming out at the end of the league stage. So
I would expect Australia to top the pool easily. India
and England should be there and thereabouts. It's for the
fourth place where it's probably going to be quite an
interesting tussle. Ic South Africa probably the favorites for that spot.
But yeah, I mean Sri Lanka playing their matches in
(19:22):
Colombo is one to keep an eye on. They might
pull a surprise or two here and there. Yeah, So
that format then it's just a shootout over three matches.
Who does well on those three big days, the two
semi finals and finals that anybody's anybody's guests. If India
managed to award Australia and get to the final, yeah
India Australia final again two years down the line after
that November heartbreak.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
It's going to be interesting to see how this one goes.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
I would like to ask Wenkutt one thing when you
briefly mentioned the venues for the World Cup, you know,
just the fact that it's all pretty out there except
day Partial. None of them have really a recent history
among Indian venues of hosting. For me personally, it kind
of nikes it's the home World Cup advantage for India,
Like I don't honestly see if India have the advantage
(20:05):
of being hosts.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
Is that something that you over on totally?
Speaker 5 (20:08):
And I because that's not from what a Harman treat
mentioned the other day. That's what they feeling I got
because she was like referring constantly how she's gonna like
look at data from the men's cricket game and stuff,
which was like I just said, like how much they're
far into over their home conditions, right see, And these
venues are not easy indoor everybody knows the high scoring venue.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
Right, we have seen in men's game as.
Speaker 5 (20:29):
Well, the ball actually travels up quicker than most parts
in India.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
Over there in India and it's a very small ground
and why.
Speaker 5 (20:34):
Is that again completely different venue at the same time,
again it's a small it's like relatively it's like a
venue where you can see a lot of success.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
Well, so these are the things that they may get
used to the pictures.
Speaker 5 (20:45):
But the outfield and the boundary size is something that
you don't discount at all. We all thought okay and
the bath twenty twenty three India Australia. Everyone who mentioned
India's spin conditions spin conditions, But there are something else
that Australia really really thought.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
It's going to pay them.
Speaker 5 (21:01):
There's a big boundary sizes on the big outfield just
remainded them of the mcg right. So I think, like
a lot of other teams, we feel like okay, like this,
even India or like not at home in their own conditions,
we will.
Speaker 4 (21:13):
Have a chance.
Speaker 5 (21:13):
So I think that's where like really India will miss
a venue like Bangalore because Bangalore also it's a small again,
it's a small round, but you get used to it.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
Right.
Speaker 5 (21:22):
You have Simana who's like, we feel totally at home
over there, and even with the remaining other players because
what was said done, they would have been there to
c in Center of Excellence or the earlier National Cricket
Academy and would have pleaded some practice which is whatever
over there at Genesaw.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
But that is not the case.
Speaker 5 (21:38):
And now it's just the d by Potter, which is
like could work to their favor others again, go Harty again,
you never know what is going to happen at this
time of the year because it's a place where the
because of it's a slightly different time zone if we
are being very open about it, but it still fits
in the Indian time zone.
Speaker 4 (21:54):
So gets the guts. Is like if it is an
early start.
Speaker 5 (21:57):
And I mean it could make a lot of difference,
but definitely play all the games day night, so when
the conditions like begin to the twilight period could come
a lot early in goat right. So these are things
they need to like sort of like figure out. I
think I'm more Zumdar. I think the supposed staff have
to like just like calm them down and saying like okay, listen,
these are things we just have to accept it. You
can't like sit there and like say, speak about it.
(22:19):
I thinks you are to accept it and then like, okay,
confront it. I think that will be the way to
go for India when.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Yeah, I mean that's something that I've been thinking about
quite a lot as well. The venues, I don't know
if the pc A or ICC could have done a
better job to give I mean, you host the World Cup,
you would want more advantage, which I'm struggling to see
here for India. Honestly, they're probably more at home at
Colombo than the other venues, played more in.
Speaker 5 (22:42):
The last one year when India played the Bilators at home.
They should have played in these venues to start off with.
That's where the planning starts, right, That's where like, yeah,
that's where they would have feel like, Okay, the mens
team won't have such this thing at all, if we're
being honest, they will only get a lot everything right,
So that should be.
Speaker 4 (22:59):
The thing if you even leader to the contigue of
the work.
Speaker 5 (23:01):
If you see me and stream had played everywhere, it's
not like we haven't like sort of played in the
venue for a long time. So these are minor things
World Cup. That's what the home World Cup is supposed
to give you an advantage. But I don't think India
over here have a total advertise. And again WPLS further
narrowed the familiarity I mean unfamiliarity treaty. There's no such
(23:21):
thing call now, especially for Australia, England and News and
prayers exactly.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
Yeah, it's slightly downing note to finish the podcast. If
you have a cheery farewell message, I think that probably
is better for a sign off.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Things must be really bad on this podcast that you're
looking to me for cherry sign of notes. Well, the
thirteenth World Cup essentially starts this week and India are
one of the favorites, as Vinak has pointed out. Hopefully,
if India can manage to will as Diana Adulga has
pointed out, it will change the history and geography of
(23:55):
women's cricket. So yeah, hoping for that. I think that's
the best you're going to get out of me. Well,
on that note, thank you so much for listening. Do
check out all of our coverage of the Women's World
Cup on our website and in the newspaper. Also, we'll
be back next week with another episode of Game Time podcast.
Thank you for listening.
Speaker 6 (24:17):
You were listening to Express Ports by the Indian Express.
This week's show was edited and mixed by Seshawar and
produced by Meshahan Bargev. If you like the show, then
do subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. You
can also recommend the show to someone you think we'll
like it, share it with a friend or someone in
your family.
Speaker 4 (24:33):
It's the best.
Speaker 6 (24:33):
Way for people to get to know about us. You
can also tweet us at Express Podcasts and write to
us at podcasts at Indian Express dot com.
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