It was supposed to be a bright day filled with cheers and flags. But nature had different plans. The grand Women’s ODI World Cup final between India and South Africa at Dr DY Patil Stadium started with a surprise rain.
By noon, light drizzle touched the ground and quickly turned into a worry for everyone waiting for the match. The ground staff rushed in rolling out huge covers across the pitch. Players stayed in the dugout and fans held their breath hoping the skies would show mercy. Nobody wanted the weather to spoil this historic day.
The toss originally scheduled earlier got pushed to 3:00 PM with the match expected to start at 3:30 PM. It wasn’t the perfect start, but hope stayed strong.
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Then, around 2:00 PM, magic happened. The rain stopped. The sun peeked through the clouds like a hero entering the scene at the right time. Instantly, the stadium buzzed with joy. Fans cheered loudly as ground staff removed the covers for the umpire inspection. Of course the pitch still had wet patches and puddles especially outside the 30-yard circle. But work began immediately. Ground crew wiped, brushed, sprinkled sawdust, anything to make sure the match could happen.
Even with the rain playing games since early morning in Navi Mumbai and nearby areas like Thane and Mumbai, nothing could stop the spirit of cricket fans. Huge crowds had gathered, some waiting since dawn hoping to witness history. Umbrellas, raincoats, and chants; fans came prepared and determined.
Both teams entered this final chasing history. Neither India nor South Africa has ever won the Women’s ODI World Cup. India has felt this pressure before twice in 2005 and 2017. And today, in front of a roaring home crowd, they hoped it would finally be their moment. South Africa, on the other hand, faced a new challenge. Their first game at this venue in the tournament. India had already played three here meaning they know the ground well.
Fans also had one relief: the match has a reserve day. So if rain returns later, the game will continue tomorrow from the same point. Still, the ICC hopes to wrap it up today, even if overs need to be reduced.