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 unsettling Wolvaardt early. History suggests the South African opener is vulnerable to the moving ball when new to the crease. But if Renuka strays short, she’ll be punished through those crisp square drives. The message is clear, keep it full, keep it swinging.
At the other end, Kranti Gaud must attack Wolvaardt’s middle and off stump, hitting the deck hard. Short-of-a-length deliveries that nip in can force her onto the back foot and cramp her room. Wolvaardt loves width; deny her that luxury, and half the job is done.
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Then there’s the change-up option. Amanjot Kaur’s slower balls could be India’s secret weapon in the middle overs. Wolvaardt’s compact technique sometimes works against her when the pace drops suddenly, an opportunity India must seize before she anchors another big game.
And if none of that works, India can still exploit her partner’s uncertainty. Tazmin Brits has struggled throughout the tournament and has been prone to risky singles. That opens the door for sharp fielding from Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, and Radha Yadav inside the circle. A run-out might just be the unorthodox dismissal India need.
Most importantly, India must choke the singles. Allowing easy rotation has been a chronic problem, and pressure only builds when those soft singles are denied. A frustrated Wolvaardt is a vulnerable Wolvaardt.
For India to script their “1983 moment”, they must find a way past the rock that is Laura Wolvaardt. Because the moment she settles in, history tends to follow her bat.
