ICC Women's World Cup: A rebirth for women's cricket: Veda Krishnamurthy

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Bengaluru, August 1: Veda Krishnamurthy played her own role in India's march to the ICC Women's World Cup title clash in England in July, notching up a crucial fifty against New Zealand.

Despite stumbling at the final hurdle against England, middle-order bat Veda told OneIndia that the women's cricket in the country has turned a corner while she also touched upon several other matters, including her fondness for dancing.

Excerpts

Your experience of playing in the World Cup?

Overall, it was a great experience. We never aimed to play in the final or win the Cup at the beginning of the tournament. The initial call was to play good cricket and as and when the tournament progressed, we redesigned our goals. A brilliant experience especially because it was my first World Cup. Of course, the cricket too was of absolutely brilliant quality.

The media coverage for the India team and the tournament as a whole was unprecedented? Were you surprised? How was it to get such a wide space in the media?

Yes, I think it was the first time we got that kind of coverage and obviously, it feels good. The main thing is the brand of cricket we played - quality was top. The matches were televised, people go to see the kind of cricket we can play. I think, that's why we are getting such a big appreciation.

So, do you think the women's cricket has taken a progressive route post the World Cup?

Basically, this is the rebirth of the women's cricket. Perception that people had about women's cricket has been changed after the World Cup. In that sense, this World Cup has been evolutionary. Again, it all boils down to the quality of cricket we played in the tournament. I think, this is just the beginning for us and it's going to help those youngsters who want to take up the game.

Looking back at your performance, satisfying to play a crucial knock (75 off 45 balls) in a crunch game against New Zealand?

That innings is really memorable and helped us reach the semifinals and eventually the final. That's the best I have played so far in international cricket. It will always remain close to my heart.

Have you always been this aggressive with the bat?

Yes, I have always been aggressive with the bat. But in international cricket, I have several times played subdued innings and never really got a chance to go out there and smash all the balls. But in this World Cup, I had made up my mind that I need to play my game, my brand of cricket, the game I know. I know aggressive batting does not click in every match but if it comes off then it's going to be a match winning one.

Since you are an aggressive batsman yourself, you might have really enjoyed Harmanpreet Kaur's 171 against Australia in the semis?

It was one of the best ODI innings I have ever seen. I have seen Harman going all guns blazing in domestic matches. But to play like that against the defending champions on a big occasion was just incredible. We will never forget that.

What went wrong in the final, you were pretty close and then everything fell apart all of a sudden? Have you recovered from that defeat?

None of us, except Mithali and Jhulan, have been in that situation before, so you call it a bit of inexperience in handling such occasions. But nobody is sitting and regretting what we did. All of us are happy for whatever we have achieved. Nobody has sat and picked mistakes happened in the game because then you will start the blame game. Cricket is a team sports and we are proud what the team has achieved.

Share us with your experience of being around Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami and how did their presence helped the team?

I have been around them for the last 7-8 years. It is very nice to have them around because Jhulu is someone who we fall back upon every time. If any doubt, anything to be discussed, then everyone seek Jhulu. Despite being such a legend, she is a sport. She always laughs around us, she's like a kid around us. She makes us so comfortable in the dressing room. She let us be ourselves, and it's nothing like she behaves: 'I am senior and you need to be quiet around me.' She backs players no matter what.

Mithali is on the quieter side compared to Jhulan. She often keeps to herself. She talks very little but whatever little she speaks it makes a lot of sense. You get to learn a lot of things from her. It's a privilege for me to play with both of them. Absolutely, brilliant role models.

We have seen a lot of videos in Youtube where you dancing instantly to a tune. Fond of dancing?

Yes, I am so fond of dancing. Any music you play, I can't resist myself and I start dancing.

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