Herald: How was the feeling when you entered the Lord’s ground in the final of Women’s World Cup?
Shikha Pandey: It was just like another game. We knew that if we play the same fearless brand of cricket which we were playing in the whole tournament we would reach the target but it was not our day. In the semi-final, if we could defeat a team like Australia, who were the defending champions, then final against England was like a usual match.
Herald: Was this the first time you had an opportunity to play at the Lord’s?
SP: We had toured England in 2014 when we played three One Day Internationals out of which the last match of the series was in Lords but the match was washed out. I was very disappointed as I had lost an opportunity to play at Lord’s. But at that time Jhulan Goswami had said to me that if we play good cricket then we will definitely make to the finals of Women’s World Cup 2017 and we made it. It was a great opportunity at Lord’s is considered as Mecca of cricket and also it is a heavenly feeling when you enter the ground. That Heritage feel!
Herald: What was your reaction when we faltered in the final?
SP: Nothing actually went wrong. Our bowling was very good but while batting, we couldn’t really get those partnerships going after the fourth wicket fell. Probably, even one good partnership after that would have landed us in the driver’s seat with the Cup.
Herald: Your performance too was not up to the mark. Any reason?
SP: It was an international tournament. You are being analysed every now and then. It actually depends on how quickly you adapt. I bowled well throughout the tournament. I scalped wickets in all the matches and had a good economy rate but in the final it wasn’t my day. That’s what international cricket is all about. Every day is a new challenge and you learn from it. Hopefully, I will come out stronger.
Herald: Tell us something about your captain and coach?
SP: Each member of the team and the support staff stood up and did their bit. The whole team performed well either with the willow or the cherry, but probably captain Mithali Raj was the only one who was consistent throughout the tournament. She was the highest run-getter in the women’s ODI with a fantastic average. It is the same with Jhulan Goswami who is also the highest wicket-taker in ODIs and she proved her class in the final. We always keep telling us that everyone cannot have a good day so whoever is having it good will stand up for a person who is down. Our coach Tushar Arothe has always been reminding us that individual performances could win us matches but than a team effort is what will take for the championship to be won.
Herald: How was the whole tour with the team?
SP: The whole team was like a family. We have been out for around one and half month playing World Cup and preparing for the matches.
Herald: How was the experience at the World Cup (overall)?
SP: It’s been a very good experience. It’s been a learning experience. I had a very good year as I was the highest wicket taker for India in the qualifiers. In the quad-triangular series I was the second highest wicket taker in all the four teams. The standard that women’s cricket has today is really great. The brand of cricket that every team is playing shows that there is very less difference between the number one ranked team and the team which in ranked number six. It is a humbling experience that you have represented your country for World Cup.
Herald: How was the feeling when you met Prime Minister Narendra Modi?
SP: It was great. Everyone looks up to him. He is running the nation and the acknowledgement from him was really out of the world for us. He has been tweeting about us and also had mentioned individual names. He asked us whether we were unhappy to which we replied yes and his answer was that you shouldn’t feel like that as you all have made us proud. Our final was the first match of his life that he saw and said even though India lost, the whole nation took the burden of the loss on their shoulders.
Herald: Besides reaching the final which of the matches do you think you proved your potential.
SP: Every game had an extraordinary innings. The first break though that I got in the tournament (first two wickets) set the tone for me. But the standard performance was the match wherein we defeated New Zealand in a one-sided match.
Herald: What is your next mission?
SP: All of us will be working on offseason fitness and conditioning. As the ICC Championship will start in October we will be gearing up for the same.
Herald: How has life changed for you all?
SP: The team’s efforts have yielded positive vibes from people of all walks of life. The messages, love and accolades may have changed our lives but we would now prefer to put our heads down and concentrate on our game.
