New Delhi, Aug 14
Former India captain Mithali Raj believes a maiden ICC Women’s ODI World Cup title is within the current team's reach if they are able to seize key moments during the tournament starting on September 30. India head into the eight-team showpiece event as one of the favourites to win the title, though seven-time champions Australia and four-time winners England remain as formidable challengers.
While captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, and Smriti Mandhana are expected to draw the spotlight, Mithali thinks India’s success may hinge on contributions from young fast bowler Kranti Goud, who impressed in the side’s ODI and T20I series wins in England. Kranti, one of the finds from WPL 2025, has played four ODIs so far.
“I was quite impressed with Kranti Goud in England with her raw talent. She has played WPL (Women's Premier League), but she does not really have that much experience. But the grit that she gets as a seamer trying to keep pegging in and getting wickets (is impressive), and she picked up a six-wicket haul (in England) as well, so I would love to see her in the World Cup playing at home.”