Author: Trisha Ghosal

By Trisha Ghosal in Mumbai It all comes down to this night. Months of planning, weeks of heartbreak, moments that will live forever and now, just 100 overs stand between immortality and regret. The ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 final is here. The DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai is packed to the rafters, an ocean of blue waiting to roar as India step out for their third World Cup final. For Harmanpreet Kaur and her side, this campaign has been a storm. They began with conviction; back-to-back wins against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, only to see their campaign…

Trisha Ghosal in Mumbai South Africa’s women’s team have been knocking on the final door since the last two editions. That door finally opened this year, led by a captain’s knock of 169 from Laura Wolvaardt. With the “chokers” tag hanging over them for years, the Proteas now have a golden chance to rewrite history, much like their men’s team did in the WTC Final earlier this year. On the eve of the grand finale against India, Wolvaardt addressed the media with her trademark calmness and composure. “Pressure’s on India” Facing India in Mumbai, in front of what’s expected to…

Trisha Ghosal in Mumbai India are less than a day away from their third ICC Women’s ODI World Cup final, this time on home soil. After a thrilling semi-final win over Australia, captain Harmanpreet Kaur addressed the media in Mumbai, composed, grounded, yet visibly emotional. Here are the key takeaways from her pre-final press conference. “We Know What It Feels Like to Lose” Having been part of 2017 (ODI WC), and 2020 (T20 WC) heartbreaks, Harmanpreet admitted that the team’s hunger to win has only intensified. “We know what it feels like to lose, and now we really…

By Trisha Ghosal in Mumbai Laura Wolvaardt is in the form of her life and India have only themselves to blame. Ever since that group-stage clash where the South African captain scratched her way to a fighting 70, she has been unstoppable. Three fifties and a monumental 169 in the semi-final later, Wolvaardt has turned into the biggest threat standing between India and their first-ever Women’s ODI World Cup title. The question now is simple, but brutal: how do you stop her? For starters, India must win the first 10 overs. Renuka Singh Thakur’s inswingers have the best chance of…

By Trisha Ghosal in Mumbai She was once the girl people mocked, for being too active on social media, for laughing too loudly, for dancing too freely, for simply being herself. But as the sun rose over Navi Mumbai this morning, Jemimah Rodrigues etched her name in Indian cricket’s golden history, as the girl who carried India into their third Women’s ODI World Cup final. For over a year, my colleague Snehasis and I have been advocating for Jemimah to bat at No. 3. And finally, the Indian team management saw what we saw, a pure match-winner waiting to be…

Trisha Ghosal in Mumbai Jemimah Rodrigues stood tall under the DY Patil lights, exhausted, teary-eyed, and victorious. Her unbeaten 127* scripted India’s sensational chase of 339 against Australia in the ICC Women’s World Cup semi-final, a night that felt less like a match and more like a story of redemption. “I didn’t play for my hundred, I played for India to win” Jemimah’s voice trembled slightly as she spoke about her mindset. “It hasn’t sunk in yet,” she said. “I didn’t play for my hundred, I didn’t play to prove a point at No. 3, I just played to make…

Trisha Ghosal in Mumbai The all-important semi-final between hosts India and defending champions Australia is set to unfold at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, a stage that has seen many dreams take flight, and a few get washed away. The lights are ready, the crowd is ready, the actors are ready. The only suspense that hangs heavy, will the curtain rise on this grand act, or will the monsoon clouds steal the show before it even begins? Mumbai, drenched in anticipation and humidity, has been under yellow alert since 23 October. But long before the skies flashed warning signs,…

By Trisha Ghosal in Mumbai On the eve of yet another World Cup semi-final showdown between India and Australia, defending champions Australia were keen to keep a lid on expectations. Head coach Shelley Nitschke faced the media at DY Patil Stadium, acknowledging both the magnitude of the clash and the quality of the home side. Semi-final stakes: ‘Anyone’s game’ Nitschke refused to label either side as favourites, insisting knockouts often defy history and form. “It’s anyone’s game. The team that holds its nerve under pressure will come out on top,” she said. She added that the leadership group would take…

Trisha Ghosal in Mumbai Just one night away from the blockbuster clash, India wrapped up their optional training session at DY Patil Stadium before Shafali Verma fronted the media, her first press interaction since returning to the senior side for the Women’s Cricket World Cup semi-final. Thrust straight into a knockout after nearly a year away from ODI cricket, the 20-year-old displayed her trademark confidence, insisting she is mentally ready for the challenge. Confident Return After a Year Out Shafali last played a 50-over international in 2024, but sees no reason for hesitation now. “It’s not new for…

Trisha Ghosal in Mumbai The DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai has long been a trusted venue for women’s cricket. But this Women’s Cricket World Cup has transformed it into something bigger – the centre of a movement. For the writer, who has been living, breathing and watching the game since childhood, this is personal. There was a time when mentioning women’s cricket would draw blank stares. The country simply didn’t know. Now? The change feels almost magical. At a cafe the other evening, a group of college students were passionately discussing Alana King. One admitted that he never knew…