2023: A historic year for Indian women’s cricket
As the world embarks on another exciting new year, it is time to reflect on the past and rejoice its myriad glories. With a special focus on Indian women’s cricket and their illustrious journey in 2023, Know Your Town picks the top five moments that will be cherished not just in the coming new year but also in the years to come.
India Women’s U19 win the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup
The Indian women’s cricket started 2023 with a bang as its U19 team went on to win the coveted ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup in South Africa. The inaugural edition was played from January 14 to 29 among 16 teams. India Women’s U19 team was captained by Shafali Verma, who is a permanent feature in India senior women’s team. With her experience, she led from the front, powering India Women to their first-ever ICC title. Leaving aside the solitary loss to Australia Women’s U19 in the Super Six stage, India Women’s U19 won all their matches. They beat England Women’s U19 in the final by seven wickets to clinch the championship. India’s Shweta Sehrawat with 297 runs ended the competition as the leading run scorer while Parshavi Chopra with 11 wickets was the second highest wicket-taker.
Finally, the WPL is born
The much-awaited Women’s Premier League (WPL) was finally born in 2023. Five teams featured in the competition that was played from March 4 to 26. A total of 22 matches were played across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. The women’s franchise of the most successful men’s team in the IPL, Mumbai Indians, won the inaugural edition of the WPL, with India’s all-format captain Harmanpreet Kaur at the helm of her team’s success. WPL was welcomed with a lot of love as the fans filled the stadiums in large numbers. Those who could not make it to watch their favourite players in person were glued to their television or mobile phones for the entire duration of the competition.
Gold medal in Asian Games
Though women’s cricket was a part of the Asian Games in 2010 and 2014, it was only in 2023, that the BCCI decided to send the team to China for the event. The Indian women’s cricket team did not disappoint as they emerged victorious securing the much-desired gold medal in the nine-team affair. India were the strong favourites going into the Asian Games as they have been ruling the roost at the Asia Cup since 2004. In the gold-medal match of the Asian Games, India beat Sri Lanka by 19 runs to stamp their authority further in the continent.
India pass the England “Test” for the first time on home soil
It was as if the Indian women’s cricket team were in a mood for Christmas celebrations since December 14. Having lost the three-match T20I series to England before the one-off Test, India were determined to settle the scores in the longest format of the game. The four-day Test was completed in three days as India beat England for the first time in women’s Tests on their home soil. From putting up their highest Test score in home conditions to bowling out England twice, India dominated the one-off Test with both bat and ball. Having already won two Tests against them in their backyard, India registered their first home Test win against England. India lead 3-1 against England in women’s Tests.
History is created as India pip Australia in women’s Tests
It was 39 years later that Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai hosted a women’s Test. Incidentally, the same two teams which played in 1984 at Wankhede Stadium played again in 2023: India and Australia. Going into the Australia Test, which was played from December 21 to 24, just five days after India’s emphatic win over England, Harmanpreet Kaur and co. were filled with confidence. Though they had never beaten Australia in the 10 Tests that they had played before, this time the team looked to defy all odds. India outperformed Australia in all departments and defeated them for the first time. Like England, they bowled out Australia twice, spinning their way to script history. The batters were on top of their game giving their bowlers plenty of runs to play with.
2023 was indeed an incredible year for the Women in Blue and they will hope to have even a better 2024, with all eyes on the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup scheduled to take place in Bangladesh.