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South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt is channeling the famous mindset of Pat Cummins as she prepares her side to take on host nation India in the at the Dr DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday. During the pre-match press conference, Wolvaardt stated that her ambition is clear: guide the Proteas to victory and “silence” the passionate Indian crowd, drawing an evocative parallel to Cummins’ statement ahead of the 2023 men’s final, where his Australian side stunned India in a packed Ahmedabad stadium.
Laura Wolvaardt ready to spoil the party for India crowd in World Cup final
Wolvaardt’s comments reflect a fiercely competitive edge. “Hopefully we win. I guess that will silence them. Yeah,” she remarked in the pre match press conference, emphasizing the Proteas’ focus and self-belief as they aim for a maiden World Cup triumph. The reference to Cummins’ approach underlines South Africa’s resolve to block out external pressure and hostile atmospheres, a vital trait in a championship decider.
South Africa’s road to the final has been marked by resilience. They opened the tournament with a dominant 10-wicket loss against England, peaked in the middle stages and recovered strongly to finish third in the group phase. A clinical performance in the semi-final against England, propelled by the skipper herself and all-rounders like , and Marizanne Kapp saw them secure their spot in the grand finale. This marks a critical opportunity for South Africa to claim their first-ever ICC women’s global trophy.
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India vs South Africa rivalry set for decisive showdown
The history between India and South Africa in Women’s World Cups adds another dramatic layer to Sunday’s contest. Their head-to-head record stands impressively balanced at 3-3, with South Africa having clinched victory in the last three meetings. India’s last win over the Proteas in a World Cup clash dates back to 2005 in Pretoria, highlighting South Africa’s recent ascendancy in this rivalry.
In this tournament, South Africa already defeated India earlier in the group stage, thanks in part to the standout performance of De Klerk. However, Wolvaardt dismissed any suggestion that previous encounters would impact her team’s mindset. “Yeah, we’re trying not to think too much about the past at all, I think. Every cricket game starts at zero. We can’t sort of bring any of our history into this game,” she added, emphasizing a fresh, pressure-ready approach for the final.
The grand finale promises a contest brimming with tension, with both sides seeking to overcome historic barriers: India hunting their first world title on home soil, South Africa striving for global glory after years of heartbreak. With a capacity crowd expected at DY Patil Stadium and the weight of expectations high, it will come down to which team handles the moment best—a theme Wolvaardt recognizes clearly. “Whoever stays the calmest under that pressure is going to most likely come out on top tomorrow,” she concluded.
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This article was first published at , a Cricket Times company.
