From Melbourne to Hobart, since the magical evening in Navi Mumbai where the Indian women’s team scripted a record chase to qualify for the ICC Women’s World Cup Final, the buzz among Indian fans in Australia has been around the summit clash. Yes, the third T20I between the India Men’s team and Australia is a crucial encounter, considering another defeat for the Men in Blue will result in them trailing 0-2 with two matches to go. But the focus firmly remains on the action between India and South Africa.
A soothing evening walk at Salamanca Place on Saturday threw us into an encounter with the Indian community based in Hobart. Many had gathered for an evening to celebrate Diwali. Yes, it has been a couple of weeks since Diwali but since the community hall wasn’t available to book, they couldn’t hold the celebration program there. However, the Indian community of around 10,000 people would turn up in numbers at the Bellerive Oval.
“It’s a shame that both the matches are at the same time. We don’t get India’s matches at Oval so we can’t miss the chance to watch the team play. We will return back from the game and watch the women’s game,” Satyendra Bhola, the secretary of Indian Cultural Society, said. “Here, women’s cricket is big, far more than in India but it’s good to see stadiums almost full in World Cup matches back home. Hopefully, the team will win the final. Our best wishes to them.”
With India playing their first match at the Bellerive Oval since 2013, there’s excitement among the Indian community here. As soon as the Indian squad entered the team hotel, many Indian fans were seen waiting for them outside the hotel premises. After spotting players, who went out for an evening walk, a few of them were seen chasing them for selfies and autographs. Many even went to different Indian restaurants in the city for dinner.
Even while talking to a few Indian fans on the streets of Hobart, there were serious discussions around the Women’s World Cup Final. “I follow women’s cricket. I still remember the heartbreak of 2017. That was brutal for the past-era players: Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami. You don’t have Australia in the final. There can’t be a better opportunity to lift the World Cup. We will celebrate within our community here if the team wins the trophy. We all are praying for them,” Jagjit Patel, now a resident of Hobart, said, outside the team hotel.
Even in the media box, the travelling Indian media and Team India media managers have been following India’s matches on laptops and mobiles through live streaming whenever the Women in Blue have been in action. And on Sunday, it will not be any different.
“We were all following the match. I don’t think India has ever won a match like this in women’s cricket, I think the maturity and teamwork that was shown as a team, I think we are really proud of them. We were just watching the match all together. Everyone was watching the match somewhere. And they were doing this, I mean, there were so many runs. As Jemimah, Harman and Smriti, they all played. And everyone played cameos in between. So, I think it didn’t feel like there was pressure on them,” Abhishek Sharma said after India went down to Australia in the 2nd T20I on Friday.
“But obviously, as a team, Indian team, if you see that the women’s team is doing so well, then you get motivated, of course. Finally, I think they deserve the trophy the way they played the semi-final game. I think they really deserve it. And they are going to do well,” he added.
The BCCI has released a video of men’s players wishing the women’s team all the best for the grand finale. And like the players, all the fans will be hoping that Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. script history on Sunday. Whereas for the men’s team, the series is on the line as they face Australia in the third T20I at the Bellerive Oval.