5 reasons why India can beat England in the Women's World Cup Final

A stellar batting display from the Indian contingent helped them beat the defending champions Australia, who are a much better team than them. The Indian bowlers were impressive as well, particularly the new ball bowlers Shikha Pandey and Jhulan Goswami, who provided priceless breakthroughs in the powerplay.

Sunday awaits arguably the greatest challenge in Indian women’s cricket history as a strong English unit are keen to lift the coveted trophy for the fourth time. This stage of the tournament has been unfamiliar territories for the Indian side, barring the one occasion in 2005 edition where they had barged into the finals.

Historically, England might be a better team, but so were Australia. Form is what matters now and both teams have played remarkably well in pressure situations. But there are certain aspects which are strongly in India’s favor and one of these might prove to be decisive on Sunday at the Lord’s.

Here are those five crucial factors which can help them overpower the hosts and lift the World Cup for the first time.

#1 An in-form middle order

Whilst Harmanpreet Kaur stole the show against Australia with a performance of a lifetime, Veda Krishnamurthy played a crucial part in an important win against New Zealand. With both these hard hitting players in good form, India have nothing to worry about the finishing business.

Deepti Sharma is another strong presence in the middle-order as she has been in top class form. Sushma Verma and Jhulan Goswami chipped with a couple of 30 plus scores as well, so it’s hard to pick a loophole in the middle.

#2 The spin trio

Though Ekta Bisht was left out in the game against New Zealand, Rajeshwari Gayakwad came in to accompany Deepti Sharma and Poonam Yadav in the spin trio and picked a five-for. It’d be fair to say they have been lethal in the tournament thus far and these are the 30 overs Mithali might not be worried about.

If the best spinners in the tournament pull off one more amazing performance on Sunday, the World Cup would well be on its way back to India.

#3 Fast bowlers providing early breakthroughs

New ball bowler Shikha Pandey has been providing crucial breakthroughs in the first five overs. In three games this tournament, she picked up a wicket in her first over. Her partner Jhulan Goswami, who has been out of form a little bit, dismantled the very dangerous Meg Lanning, whose wicket is equivalent to three wickets in such big games. She bowled an economical spell and looks like she’s getting back on the right track exactly at the right time.

#4 Form turning into consistency

“Form is temporary, class is permanent” they say and we’ve seen so many examples to justify it. India have been on a purple patch over the last few months and they have turned this form into consistency and that got them into the finals of the tournament. If they have enough firepower in their arsenal to deliver one fair and square knock out punch on Sunday, Women’s cricket will change completely in the cricket frenzy nation.

#5 Captain Fantastico!

Mithali Raj is the heart of the side, let that be with the willow in hand or with her masterful brain on the field. Commentators on air in the second Semi-final cried out loud that mid-on should be at the boundary rope instead of a catching position as the boundaries were pouring down at an alarming rate. But she stuck to her plan and eventually got the big fish Elyse Villani caught at that mid-on catching position.

There are many more instances like this when her say had a great influence on the game and how can anyone forget that innings against England in the opening game, where she kept reading a novel before coming to bat and on the field, scored a magnificent half-century. If this really is going to be her final World Cup, maybe there will never be a better opportunity to go down in history books.