The entire nation is proud of Indian Women’s Cricket Team campaign at the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 in New Zealand. Even though the team failed to qualify for the semi-finals, it gave us some unforgettable moments to savour for the rest of our lives. India Women’s Cricket Team has produced so many superstars who have helped the women in blue overcome great adversities to rise to the top of the cricketing fraternity.
The Indian captain in ODIs, Mithali Raj, has the longest career in women’s cricket history and has earned numerous accolades which have brought glory to the Tricolour. Combined with our formidable players over the years, she has performed unprecedentedly for India. Cricreads celebrates the campaign of India at ICC Women’s CWC 2022 and brings to its readers some of the best moments in India Women’s Cricket history.
Top 8 Moments in India Women’s Cricket History:
1- Harmanpreet Kaur’s 171 vs Australia in the 2017 CWC
Harmanpreet Kaur gave every Indian several reasons to rejoice and scream in their seats when she played a marvellous knock of 171* in just 115 deliveries against the mighty Aussies in the semi-finals of the 2017 CWC. The stakes could not have been any higher; she delivered when the team needed her to and scored the highest individual score for Indian Women in CWC history. Her blitzing inning helped India trounce Australia to reach the finals and will always remain etched into the minds and hearts of generations to come in Indian Women’s Cricket.
2- Mithali Raj’s 91 vs New Zealand in 2005 CWC
Long before Harmanpreet scripted an Indian win in the semi-finals of the World Cup, Mithali Raj, the veteran Indian cricketer, produced a remarkable lone-warrior knock under extreme pressure to take India beyond 200 in a semi-final against Kiwis at CWC 2005. Mithali’s crucial inning helped India clinch the semi-finals by 40 runs to qualify for finals in 2005 CWC.
3- First World Cup Semi-final for India in 1997
The 1997 Women’s Cricket World Cup was held in India, which made the expectations of the Indian cricket fans go through the roof for the side led by Pramilla Bhatt. India Women’s Cricket team did not disappoint its fans and carved history to qualify for the semi-finals for the first time along with the giants Australia, England and New Zealand.
4- Twin Hundreds vs West Indies in 2022 CWC
Desperate for a win after suffering a massive defeat against Kiwis, India Women put up an extraordinary performance against the Windies on the back of hundreds from Mandhana and Kaur. Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur created the first instance of two Indian batters scoring a century in the same innings at the World Cup to make the win memorable against the Windies.
5- Jhulan Goswami’s 250th Wicket in ODIs
Jhulan Goswami has been the backbone of Indian pace bowling for over two decades. The leading wicket-taker in Women’s ODI achieved the milestone of 250 wickets in the ongoing ICC Women’s CWC 2022. She achieved this feat in India’s encounter against England at Mount Manganui. Goswami trapped the English opener Tammy Beaumont leg-before to attain the unprecedented accomplishment.
6- Neetu David’s 20 Scalps at 2005 CWC
The engine behind India Women’s Cricket team fruitful campaign at the 2005 Women’s CWC. Neetu David dismissed 20 batters in the tournament to help India reach the semi-finals. She was the highest wicket-taker in ICC Women’s CWC 2022. Her magical spells are still vividly evident in the memories of fans.
7- First T20 World Cup Final in 2020
India Women’s Cricket team reached the tournament’s finals for the first time in 2020 after being ousted from the T20 World Cup twice in the semi-finals in previous outings. Rain washed the semi-final between India and England, but India’s performance in Group-A helped them qualify for the finals. India played exceptional cricket at the group stage and won each of its 4 encounters.
8- Mithali Raj’s 214 vs England in Test Cricket
A young Mithali Raj looking to establish her stature in the side boasting of stars like Anjum Chopra and Anju Jain played an innings that redefined the India Women’s Cricket. She shattered the all-time high score in Test cricket when she made 214 against England in the second Test of India’s tour to England in 2022 to register her resounding presence in the cricketing world. India found a gem in that match that became the backbone of Women’s cricket.
Also read: Six-Team Women’s IPL from 2023? Everything You Need to Know
