Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar believes the upcoming ODI World Cup in India, starting Tuesday, will be a defining moment for women’s cricket in the country.The Indian women’s team’s journey to the 2017 World Cup final in England significantly boosted the sport’s popularity. India is still pursuing its first global trophy, which Tendulkar believes could be achieved by Harmanpreet Kaur’s team on home soil.”I sense that women’s cricket in India stands on the cusp of its own watershed moment. The upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup will not just be about chasing a trophy; it will be about igniting countless dreams,” Tendulkar wrote in an ICC column. “Somewhere in Moga, a teenage girl might be clutching her bat tighter, hoping to emulate her idol Harmanpreet Kaur. In Sangli, another girl might be practising her drives, daring to dream like Smriti Mandhana.” Harmanpreet Kaur captured national attention with her remarkable 171-run innings against Australia in the 2017 World Cup semifinal, which left a lasting impression on Tendulkar.”I still remember vividly Harmanpreet’s magnificent 171 against Australia in the 2017 World Cup. It was not just an innings; it was a statement. The sheer audacity of her strokeplay, the clarity of her mind, and the courage in her heart took women’s cricket in India into a new orbit,” he further noted.”I believe that was the moment when many stopped seeing women’s cricket as a sideshow—it became centre stage.”Tendulkar also expressed admiration for Smriti Mandhana’s batting style, continuing, “There is a silken grace to her batting, a natural rhythm in the way she times the ball. Her ability to find gaps with such elegance reminds me of the finest in the game.”The cricket icon sees the home World Cup as a crucial platform for women’s cricket development.”Now, the sport has the opportunity to transcend barriers—of gender, of perception, of accessibility. The little girl with a plastic bat in a small town must feel that the world is open to her, just as I felt after watching a triumphant Team India in 1983,” he added.Tendulkar acknowledged ICC chairman Jay Shah’s contributions to women’s cricket in India.”A lot of credit must go to Jay Shah, who, during his time as BCCI secretary, pushed for equal match fees for men and women and laid the foundation for the Women’s Premier League,” he concluded.
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