‘Shades of ’83’ – Former India head coach drops a big statement on Indian Women’s Cricket Team ahead of 20-20 Women’s World Cup

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri was ecstatic to see his nation win the inaugural edition Women’s Under-19 20-20 World Cup last month and thinks the triumph may help the senior team win the upcoming Women’s 20-20 World Cup.

Shastri was recently spotted in The Review Show run by the Apex Cricket Council where he told the host of the show Sanjana Ganeshan he was very happy when India star opener Shefali Verma led her team to the title in the inaugural season last month.

While India’s senior team hasn’t experienced glory in the Women’s 20-20 World Cup’s seven editions, they came close when they lost to the tournament’s hosts Australia in the final in 2020.

Shastri, however, believes that the wind is beginning to turn and that India can replicate the achievements of their Under-19 side and experience victory at the upcoming 20-20 World Cup in South Africa.

It was fabulous to see the way the young girls played, and won: Ravi Shastri

I’ve always said the biggest thing that’s going to happen in women’s cricket, and the women’s team is (not) that far away. I’ve kept saying it for the last six, or eight months (India’s women’s team) is not that far away from winning a big one. They’ve threatened, they’ve reached finals, they’ve lost some close games, but they’re there,” said Shastri.

The Indian legend was a part of the World Cup-winning side back in 1983 under the leadership of the greatest all-rounder of all time, Kapil Dev against West Indies. He said that the victory proved a turning point as Cricket was seen very differently after that.

The 60-year-old asserted that he sees the same enthusiasm in the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Women in Blue that the 83 World Cup winning side. He also added that they can end their drought of titles this time around in South Africa.

“I know what happened in ‘83, when we won the World Cup, it opened up a Pandora’s Box,” said Shastri, who represented the national team in 80 Tests and 150 ODIs between 1981 and 1992,” stated the former left-arm spinner.

“The whole look at the game changed, you know, the way players were perceived, the way the game was perceived, the way people wanted. To pack the system, the way the monetization of the sport changed overnight,” he added.

“I see that happening with the women’s cricket. Now, under-19 is just a step. It was fabulous to see the way the young girls played, and won. And, especially the final, to beat a team like England, bowl them out for 68 and then do the job was an outstanding achievement and that spurred a lot of young cricketers to take the sport,” the legend concluded.