Harmanpreet enjoying buzz around final

A massive crowd outside the DY Patil Stadium on Saturday was the perfect example of the effect the Indian team’s entry into the World Cup final had on the popularity of women’s cricket. The entry gates of the stadium were jam-packed by people, who wanted to get tickets for Sunday’s India-South Africa ICC World Cup final.

“Perhaps, for the first time, I am facing equal pressure about being in the final and arranging passes (tickets) for my dear ones. It’s good to see the eagerness of people to watch us playing. Credit to the team for reaching the final. Yes, there’s a massive pressure of arranging passes but I am enjoying it,” said India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur.

It is a rarity for women’s cricket that people are fighting over tickets. “This rush is just because the Indian team made it to the final. Whom are they playing against, it doesn’t even matter. This will be a game changer in the history of women’s cricket in India,” said Shurtika Kulkarni, a young spectator.

Ashutosh Wadwalkar, a fan who was there to buy five tickets for his family, said: “We have been here for almost two hours now, and still there is no chance of getting tickets. The box office wore a deserted look till yesterday, but the rush today was something special.”

It was in 2017 after India lost the World Cup final that the nation witnessed a massive push for the development of women’s cricket. People started to recognise women cricketers and started coming out in their support. “It’s good to have a new world champion this year. I remember returning to India after the World Cup final defeat. It was not a good phase but the amount of popularity and push the Indian women’s cricket witnessed was massive. I just hope it doubles this time. Playing in home conditions is like carrying a huge responsibility, and the girls have performed it with full responsibility. Let’s see, if we can push it to top gear tomorrow,” said Harmanpreet.