Even men had to wait, women’s team will soon win World Cup: Rana

Mumbai, July 19

Rohit Sharma and Co’s recent triumph in the T20 World Cup has given the Indian women’s team much-needed belief and confidence to continue its pursuit of winning a maiden ICC trophy, said the side’s spin-bowling all-rounder Sneh Rana.

While India are once again favourites to retain the title in the Women’s Asia Cup, starting in Sri Lanka today, the team’s true test will be in the T20 World Cup in October and next year’s ODI World Cup which they host.

The Indian women’s cricket team, if you look at the past 2-3 years, they are doing their best. For (winning) the ICC trophy, let’s take the men’s (team’s example), it took almost 10 years to get the trophy. It will take time. But eventually, we will get there. —Sneh Rana, India spinner

Rana believes India, who have tripped over near the final hurdle a few times, have worked very hard to win a global competition and glory is not far away.

“The Indian women’s cricket team, if you look at the past 2-3 years, they are doing their best,” Rana said. “For (winning) the ICC trophy, let’s take the men’s (team’s example), it took almost 10 years to get the trophy. They have been preparing and working hard for it for a long time. To achieve something big, it will not happen overnight. It will take time. It will take a lot of sacrifices, a lot of struggle and a lot of things in between. But eventually, we will get there,” she added.

Fielding is an area of concern that has been acknowledged by the players and coaches, but Rana said there is no lack in intent in order to get better. “When we play N number of matches, the chances of errors are more. But it doesn’t mean that someone is bad at it. Obviously, as a player, when you are on the field, you want to always do your best for your country,” she said. “As far as ICC trophies are concerned, for big events, the more matches we play, the more experience we will get,” she added.

The Women’s Premier League has made the Indian players busier than before but its versatile nature will help in the longer run, Rana said. “Since WPL came, we have become a bit busier. I think the busier, the better. Cricket has got more exposure since WPL came. The match exposure is always good for a player. The versatility that WPL brings on the table by sharing dressing rooms with the overseas players,” she said.

However, Rana faces the challenge of winning a spot back in the white-ball side as she was not included for the Asia Cup campaign.