Sunil Gavaskar explains why India Women’s World Cup win is special but different from 1983 triumph

Sunil Gavaskar explains why India Women’s World Cup win is special but different from 1983 triumph (PTI Photo)

The Indian women’s cricket team finally struck gold, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final to lift the Women’s World Cup. It was third time lucky for India, who had fallen just short in their previous two ODI World Cup final appearances — in 2005 and 2017.

Eight years after the devastation at Lord's under Mithali Raj, the Indian women's cricket team finally had its moment in the spotlight thanks to Harmanpreet Kaur and her talented unit, who won the biggest championship possible.

The triumph was immediately compared to the Indian men's team's World Cup triumphs, particularly 1983 when Kapil Dev's squad overcame all odds to win the trophy for the first time after defeating the formidable West Indies in the final.

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But India's legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar, who was part of the 1983 edition, refrained from drawing parallels between the two World Cup campaigns.

"The win once again emphasised, if ever it was needed, that sporting intelligence wins trophies, not fancy degrees from universities. It also proves that it will invariably be Indian coaches who get the best results since they know the players – their strengths, weaknesses, and temperament – and understand the nuances of Indian cricket better than any foreigner, however accomplished he or she may be," Gavaskar wrote in his column for The Sportstar.

"There were some who tried to compare this win with the men’s team winning the World Cup in 1983. The men had never progressed beyond the group stage in earlier editions, and so everything from the knockout stage onward was new to them, while the women already had a better record, having been in two finals before this magnificent triumph."

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Nobody predicted that the 1983 Indian squad would even make it to the knockout stages, much less win the World Cup. Conversely, save from 2005 and 2017, the women's teams advanced to the 2020 T20 World Cup final and lost to Australia in the title clash.

Nevertheless, Gavaskar is certain that what Harmanpreet Kaur's team has accomplished is a turning point that will break down barriers and pave the way for the next phase of Indian women's cricket domination.

"Just as the '83 win galvanised Indian cricket and gave it a voice that was heard around the world, this victory will make the countries that started women’s cricket long before India did realise that their era of domination has been shaken. The ’83 win also encouraged parents of aspiring cricketers to let their children take up the game," added Gavaskar.

"Similarly, this win will give new wings to women’s cricket, bringing more girls into the game from the remotest parts of India. The WPL has already begun that process, as parents now see the sport as a genuine career option for their daughters and are more willing to support them."