Is there a World Cup on? India can do better by supporting women’s cricket

Indian players celebrating together at the ICC Women's World Cup (BCCI Photo)

The World Cup is on at the moment in the country. And yet there is very little buzz. Imagine if it had been the men’s World Cup with India trying to win the title at home. Almost every roadside stall would have cut outs of cricketers and the only talk would be can India do the job? None so ever for the women’s game. While there are some adverts from sponsors involving some of the stars, the overall buzz is missing. And that’s where we are letting the game down. The truth is this is our moment. No so much the players who toil all the year around. But for the fans who can step up and back the game and make a difference. People need to embrace the sport and make it to the stadiums. Make the game their own and back the team. Showcase Indian sport in front of the world.

It was the same during the world para athletics world championships in Delhi. While India did superbly well winning 22 medals, there was hardly any crowd at the JLN stadium all through the competition. Playing to empty stands was much like a throwback to Covid times and it is not a good advert for a country seeking to host the CWG or the Olympics.

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An example will suffice. I had booked an apartment in Vizag for my colleagues covering the India versus South Africa World Cup match on October 9. The day before they reached I got a call from the apartment reconfirming the booking. When I mentioned the World Cup, there was an awkward silence. Clearly the person at the other end couldn’t fathom what I was saying. Only when I specified the women’s World Cup did things register and I was met with a surprise that we had actually booked a property to send reporters for a women’s event.

This is what frustrates me about India. We do 95 percent things well. But then the last 5 percent leaves us with a negative impression. We don’t close things out and when comparisons are made with the world we fall short. The least that can be expected for India games are capacity crowds. In India to fill a stadium with fans isn’t a big ask and when it’s a World Cup more so. This is the first thing that will make broadcast come alive in a stadium. If it means getting in students for free, so be it. We need full stadiums for the World Cup to stand out.

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Coming to the game, I expect much better from India in the coming matches. Our batting has been below par and fielding poor in the two games that have been played. The big guns in Harmanpreet and Smriti need to step up and basic fielding drills can’t be messed up. India and dropped catches are a story and it can come back and sting the team in crux games going forward. In fact it is time we stop celebrating a win against minnows Pakistan and focus on the big picture ahead. The World Cup, in earnest, is about to start from the 9th and India will need to be at their best against South Africa who looked very impressive against New Zealand last night.

Be it off the field with fans or on the field with players, the World Cup experience has to improve. And that’s what I will be hoping for before doing my next column on the subject for Moneycontrol.