In a historic victory, the Indian Women’s Cricket Team clinched their maiden gold medal at the Asian Games 2023 by defeating Sri Lanka by 19 runs in a closely contested final. This remarkable achievement marks a significant milestone for women’s cricket in India.
Despite facing challenging batting conditions, the Indian Women’s Team managed to post a total of 116 for seven in their allotted 20 overs. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur led from the front, contributing 46 runs to the team’s score, while Jemimah Rodrigues added 42 valuable runs. The partnership of 73 runs between Smriti Mandhana (46 off 45 balls) and Jemimah Rodrigues (42 off 40 balls) proved crucial in setting a competitive target.
The pitch, which was difficult for batting, made run-scoring a challenge as it became progressively slower during the match. To combat the challenging conditions, Mandhana and Rodrigues effectively utilized the sweep shot. However, Mandhana sustained an injury while completing a quick single, affecting her footwork against spinners later in her innings.
In pursuit of the target of 117 runs, Sri Lanka Women’s team struggled against a disciplined Indian bowling attack. Rookie pacer Titas Sadhu played a pivotal role in India’s triumph with her outstanding bowling performance. She finished with remarkable figures of 4-1-6-3, showcasing her potential as a future star of Indian women’s cricket. Sadhu’s lethal deliveries on a fuller length yielded three wickets in her first two overs, including the crucial wicket of Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu.
Leg-spinner Devika Vaidya (4-0-15-1) also played a vital role by maintaining a tight line and length throughout her spell. Left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad (3-0-20-2) and off-spinner Deepti Sharma (4-0-25-1) found their rhythm during the latter stages of the match, ensuring that the Indian Women’s Team remained in control.
The Sri Lankan innings got off to a shaky start as they lost their top-order batsmen quickly. Hasini Perera (25 off 22 balls) provided some resistance, but Rajeshwari’s bowling forced her to play an uppish sweep shot, leading to her dismissal.
Ultimately, Sri Lanka managed to reach 97 for eight in their allotted 20 overs, falling short of the target by 19 runs.
While this gold medal was expected for India, the quality of cricket was affected by the challenging pitch conditions. Nevertheless, it is a significant moment for Indian women’s cricket, showcasing their potential and dedication to the sport.
Titas Sadhu’s impressive performance as a young pacer signals hope for the future of Indian women’s cricket, especially in the absence of a genuine fast bowler like Jhulan Goswami.
The Indian Women’s Cricket Team’s historic victory at the Asian Games 2023 reaffirms their commitment to the game and their ability to compete at the highest level. It is a moment of pride for the nation and a stepping stone for women’s cricket in India.
