'Go out and give your best' - Sachin Tendulkar's message to team India ahead of Women's T20 World Cup final

Harmanpreet Kaur & Co. created history on Thursday when they booked India’s place in the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final for the very first time. After falling at the semifinal stage in the last edition, the Women in Blue managed to go one step ahead this time with a slice of luck. Their semifinal against England was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

With no reserve day in place, India progressed to the final on the virtue of finishing higher in the group stage. India had won all of their four group games while England suffered one loss which came against South Africa in their tournament-opener. India will now take on the hosts and defending champions Australia in the final. Both the teams have already met once in the competition with the Women in Blue coming out on top on that occasion.

Sachin Tendulkar wishes India ahead of the final

As India gear up for the final and eye a historic win, the legendary Sachin Tendulkar wished the team for the all-important clash. The former India batsman reckoned there is no point thinking about the pressure that such games entail. He was all praise for the team’s performance in the competition, saying that the players have inspired so many youngsters.

“Go out and give your best. And that is what my message to them is, don’t take any pressure, though it is easier said than done,” Tendulkar was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

“I want to tell them that they just stay together. You don’t need to spend time with the outside world. If you are in company with each other and keep talking positive things because good things have happened to our team. I have been following their performances and they have inspired so many youngsters,” added Tendulkar who helped India win the World Cup in 2011.

A lot of eyes will be on India’s young batting sensation Shafali Verma who recently became the world number one batter in T20Is. The right-hander has taken the tournament by storm. Shafali has scored 29(15), 39(17), 46(34) and 47(34) en route her 161 in this T20 World Cup edition till now and will be looking to do well one more time.