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Published : Dec 28, 2024 11:44 IST – 5 MINS READ
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2024 has been a great year for those who follow women’s cricket in India, and this reporter was fortunate to witness quite a few memorable moments. Exciting Test victories over Australia and England welcomed the New Year, followed by a thumping of South Africa a few months later.
A dramatic Women’s Premier League saw Smriti Mandhana come of age as a leader, delivering the Royal Challengers Bengaluru its first domestic crown. Domestic red-ball cricket made a return. Although India’s World Cup campaign was one to forget, the Goliath that is Australia was denied a four-peat in T20 World Cups, with its neighbour New Zealand ascending the throne instead.
A post shared by Lavanya Lakshminarayanan (@lav_storiesfromsports)
Attending World Cups typically tops the list of cherished memories. It was no different for this reporter, for whom it was her maiden international assignment. The tournament brought together journalists from around the world — individuals she had previously only interacted with through a computer screen. Planning sightseeing trips — albeit unsuccessfully — around team training and match schedules, splitting expenses, and sharing conversations about the game and its players offered an opportunity to return to being a student of the sport.
New Zealand winning the World Cup was an unexpected cherry on top. The Kiwis were always happy to engage with the press, even during training. After 10 consecutive losses in the run-up to the tournament, Sophie Devine and Co. winning the title carried a certain philosophical merit as well.
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The daily grind of matches between two cities left little time to explore Dubai. Funnily enough, it was only on the morning of the final that the reporter reconnected with an old university classmate from Birmingham and saw the city as locals do. A five-hour car ride, a sumptuous Egyptian breakfast by Jumeirah Beach, and some last minute shopping served as the perfect precursor to a fulfilling end to the tournament.
Long after the lights dimmed at the Dubai International Stadium, the reporter, along with a few press personnel who stayed back, witnessed a beautiful musical dedication from Amelia Kerr to Devine, followed by some maverick dancing from the victorious team. This came after a memorably philosophical press conference with the outgoing T20I skipper, who graciously indulged requests to pose with the trophy.
The ICC’s media representatives had spent the entire tournament tapping their watches in true Fergie style when reporters would try and push for facilities to be kept open a while more to meet their deadlines. Right before the press box was locked for the last time, peace was brokered over a few glasses of rosé wine.
What to expect in 2025
A home World Cup beckons, with fresh talent in the fray, new regions potentially hosting fixtures, and the future of India’s leadership core hanging in the balance. The reporter hopes this year brings greater accountability in selections and perhaps even an ICC title to calm the nerves of a system in transition.
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