Rau, who also served as coach before getting sacked, said she believes that India will bring home the trophy
Former India off-spinner Purnima Rau is very confident that the people of India will experience the 1983 World Cup moment that the men's team under Kapil Dev gave the nation.
The 50-year-old Rau was coach of the Indian women’s team for two years until being sacked in April this year just days prior to the Indian team’s departure for the Quadrangular series in South Africa. She was replaced by Baroda’s Tushar Arothe.
Rau, in an interview to DNA in March after India won the qualifiers in Sri Lanka, said all the former cricketers dreamt of winning the World Cup. “We are all waiting for the 1983 World Cup moment that happened for men,” Rau had said then.
Ahead of the final, Rau reiterated that statement. “India is going to win this World Cup. This is what I told the girls when the journey began in 2014,” she said.
Rau insisted that the spotlight should be on the players. “I have not done anything. The girls have tremendous potential. The old adage of Rome wasn’t built in a day is very valid here. The journey towards this World Cup began in 2014. I hope the final will be as emphatic as the semifinal win,” Rau said.
She found the team to be mentally tougher than ever before. “What they are doing (skills-wise) in this World Cup is what they have been doing in the last couple of years. But the only difference I found in them this World Cup was that they have become mentally tougher. I'm sure the girls know it. I'm happy to see the light of this day. I've always dreamt of it and I'm seeing it unfold.
“I'm very happy that people are taking note of the power in women’s cricket. Thirteen centuries in this single World Cup is fitting answer to (former Pakistan pace bowling great) Waqar Younis, who said women’s ODIs should be 30-over affairs.
“From the point of view of sympathisers, this World Cup has gathered more. Earlier, out of curiosity, people would watch women’s matches. Harmanpreet’s knock of 171* has got everyone glued to the television. The significance of the knock in the semifinal is proof that they have become mentally tougher. Globally, people are taking note of the power women can give to their strokes. Each team has at least two players who can play the power game,” Rau said.
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