India XI: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Renuka Singh
South Africa XI: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba
4:30pm And the time has come. The captains are finally out in the middle for the toss. Surely whoever wins it will want to bowl first? Let’s find out what Harmanpreet and Wolvaardt have in mind. Harmanpreet has the coin and she gives it a spin. Heads is the call, and the coin, after a bit of a roll settles down, coming to a halt as heads. South Africa will bowl first. Wolvaardt says this is a nice chasing ground, and she hopes the conditions are a little sticky at the start, and hopes for their new-ball bowlers to find their lengths early. Same team for SA. Big game for them, she mentions, but the team is excited about it. It is a special occasion to play in front of a crowd like this. Adds that they have to start from scratch but are confident in the way they are playing.
Harmanpreet says she would have bowled first too, looking at the overhead conditions. But she reckons batting first could be good as they can bat freely. Pitch looks a little sticky because of the rain. After five-six overs, she does not expect there to be much in the surface because of the rain around and due to the ball getting wet. Adds that they have spoken about the game from a few days ago, but they now that this is a big game, and looking forward to it. Same team for India as well.
Ry: “Will this be the first time ever that a 50 over match has started at 5pm? It could be a late night over there!” — Not sure about that, but definitely sure that it will be a long night…
prady: “what’s like the update in terms of reduction, have we lost any overs?” — No overs lost so far. But if we cannot start at 5pm, overs will start getting reduced. Almost all covers off now, though, so hopefully we will not have to cross that bridge.
4:17pm Hello again, everyone. We still seem to be on track for a 4:32pm toss and a 5pm start. The Indian players now make their way out to indulge in their usual warm-up routines too, and that is met by a huge cheer. South African team in a huddle, inside the playing field. They seem pretty calm as Wolvaardt gives out some instructions. This extra wait will have done neither team any favours, given the occasion.
Wajid Jawaid: “Wouldn’t it be doubly good if women’s cricket has not one but two new champions at the end of this final? ” — If we are having this conversation tomorrow at this very time, that may not be entirely beyond the realms of possibility.
4.08pm Aaaand, just as I had finished typing my previous update, the covers are back on. Looks to be precautionary as it is not raining at the moment. The one main cover is on, right now. Shashwat is back to provide more updates.
4.05pm All the covers are off. The super-sopper is doing its bit. The drainage seems to be superb! Harmanpreet Kaur and Amol Muzumdar have just strolled out to have a look at the pitch. And we have a start time: the toss will be at 4.32pm, while the match gets underway at 5pm if there is no further rain. There are no reduction in overs.
3.55pm Time for some good news, folks. Sruthi informs that the rain has stopped and its gotten a bit brighter. The groundstaff have sprung into action, and the super-sopper is ready. Plenty of work going on around the covers, much to the excitement of the crowd. There are a fair few puddles around, though. The covers are coming off.
Roger: “The weather app on my phone says rain in Navi-Mumbai is expected to end around 4pm. Let’s hope it’s accurate.” Your app seems to be accurate.
3.40pm Sruthi informs that the cut-off time for a 20-over game is 9.08pm. Raining steadily as things stand. The forecast for the evening is promising, I must add.
Shadow-Shell: “@Fazli It’s nice and sunny there only because there is no cricket match there today”
fazli: “nice and sunny in Colombo. they should move the final here”
Ask@1: “I am an hour away from stadium rain is stopped here before 1hour although there is some clouds but condition is getting brighter so hope we get the champions today “
3.30pm It is still absolutely hosing down. There are also a few puddles on the outfield. Even once the rain stops, the clearing up will take time. We are in for a long wait, guys. We will start losing overs from 5pm.
Sri: “who will get the trophy in case of wash out both the days?” Trophy will be shared
Seetharama Von : “Grüße from Munich, Germany!! An evergreen fan of Espncricinfo, watching Ind v Aus on TV, following on Cricinfo for Ind v SA to start. My thumb is fractured after wicket-keeping for an entire day in a local tournament. But 2 Big matches on Sunday from morning till evening is the best rest I could hope for!”
Manmeet: “Despite the continuous rain, the crowd is all cheered up here at the ground. Amazing atmosphere. “
3.15pm No change, unfortunately. “Quite bad,” is the verdict from Sruthi, further adding that “think it was the heaviest spell of rain since morning.” But there is a silver lining. She says the rain has slowed down. That’s caused a little excitement within the fans who have been patiently waiting. Loud cheers for groundstaff walking out. It does look a little clearer overhead.
Murali Krishnan: “I understand it is raining at the moment in Navi Mumbai. My question is that if it clears up as per the forecasts, why truncated game? especially when there is a “reserve” day tomorrow and it is designed to be played as a continuation (not a new start). Why not give the fullness to the ultimate game? ” So, the first rule is that the organisers try and complete the game on the first day and go into the reserve day only if needed. Their first priority is to end the game on the main day
Luqman : “Is there an reserve day in the form of tomorrow ” Indeed, there is
3pm Hello, people. How’s the excitement? I don’t come bearing great news as it is absolutely bucketing down in Navi Mumbai and the covers are firmly in place. We were supposed to have the toss at 3pm so can safely strike that out. The wait goes on. Just a reminder that today we start losing overs after two hours, not one. So there is still hope for a full game despite the delays.
Raj Patel : “Maybe the rain gods are waiting for India Australia to finish so we can start this game and I don’t have to keep switching Channels”
2:51pm But just as I boast about my knowledge of the elements, Sruthi chips in with some not-so-encouraging news: “A massive dark cloud heading towards the stadium now.” And on that note, it is time to welcome Ashish into the comms seat. Hopefully he will have more luck than me so far in this final rain-watch.
Nitin: “Q1. Is there a chance that both days could be washed out?Q2. What should be the decision from toss winning captain after this rain?” — There was rain forecast for today, but the forecast does suggest it could clear up and allow for a completed even if truncated game. As for the second question, given the conditions, it is increasingly becoming a no-brainer to bowl first, although runs on the board in a knockout still could be enticing.
2:43pm Rain getting heavier now, and Sruthi and Vishal send through that message almost at the same time, which perhaps points to the urgency of the matter. The Indian players, prior to that, were doing some light warming up, but all of them have rushed back in now. Looks like that kind of a day, unfortunately.
Sandeep: “As an Indian, I would love India to win. But I wouldn’t be disappointed at all if SA win. That would have a massive impact on the country that desperately needs a big trophy. May the best team win! Go India!” — And after waiting so many years for an ICC trophy, South Africa, across men’s cricket and women’s cricket, could have two ICC titles in the same year.
2:35pm Ah, here we go again. Sruthi says the drizzle has returned and that the covers are coming back on. Sigh. The good thing, though, is that we start losing overs only after two hours, as opposed to the hour of buffer time we had during the group stage.
Kishore: “Why cant they complete the toss and wait for the rain to stop. ” — Because a lot of things can change, and teams would want to know the conditions as close to start time before making their decision?
Satishakumar : “Today, it’s all about who holds nerves better and makes less mistakes. Both teams are favourites to win trophy.” — Or maybe, it is about who is lesser afraid of making mistakes…
2:28pm And, we have some very, very positive news, folks. Toss will take place at 3pm local time, with the first ball slated to be bowled at 3:30pm local time. It is happening.
Faiz: “Has the toss been delayed?” — Yes, it has been delayed. But not by much. Just a 30-minute delay at the moment, and fingers crossed it stays that way. That extra half hour might have given fans a chance to further pack the stadium, though.
2:25pm Almost all of the covers are off now. But there is what looks like a problematic puddle in the wide long off region (for a right-hander when bowling from the end where the press box is situated), and that might need a mop-up operation. The sun is out now, Sruthi tells me, and that can only be a good sign.
Vinod Rajpal: “The Player of the tournament(Ground staff) are on duty again to maintain the ground and give us a game tonight !” — Ha! Where would this sport be without those superheroes!
2:20pm The covers are being peeled off but Sruthi promptly notes that there are a few wet patches which might need some working upon. No official confirmation yet, but we could be heading towards a delayed toss.
Prakash: “Not to jinx or anything just pointing it out .. in this year table top 4 lower placed teams lost to the teams above them but in semi finals loosing teams emerged as victorious, so based on that today winner will be well .. i’d give it to your imagination ” — Indian fans, who believe in jinxes and superstitions, might probably not take very kindly to this theory…
2:15pm A huge cheer and that seems to be because the ground staff have come on and are moving around on the covers. And now Vishal, who is also at the venue, chimes in, saying that it is a bit brighter now and that people have begun folding their umbrellas. The umpires are now engaged in discussion with the ground staff, and they have their umbrellas by their side too.
2:10pm “Down to a drizzle now, but still incessant,” says Sruthi. “The stands are filling up, though,” she adds.
Sanket Shirseka: “What will happen if both Days are a wash out? Asking for a friend. ” — The trophy will be shared. This piece should have the answers.
2pm Both India and South Africa are on the cusp of doing something they have never done in their history, and have gotten to this stage having hurdled over several obstacles, over the past decade or so, and in the past month. All that and much more in Vishal Dikshit’s preview.
Kapil: “please confirm if the match restarts tomorrow or continues from where is stops..and will we lose overs for today if there is a reserve day?” — A full effort will be made to complete the match today, even if it is a shortened win. If that is not possible, then the game will move to the reserve day and will resume from where play stopped.
Prateek: “This game deserves the blockbuster finish on Sunday, not a rain affected game drifting to Monday. Hope the rain relents soon!”
Shadow-Shell: “2017 ODI World Cup & 2024 T20I World Cup both saw a semi final exit for Australia. Neither time did the team that defeated them has won the final” — Probably the only stat that would have dampened the excitement of Indian fans more than the rain.
Aamir: “While comparing Radha Yadav and Sneh Rana, I feel Sneh Rana is the more complete player – she offers accuracy with the ball and reliability with the bat in crunch situations. However, Radha Yadav has the edge here, as South African batters tend to struggle against left-arm spinners. Quite a dilemma, since I’m a fan of both!” — Radha also provides a greater fielding edge, and that could be crucial in a final. Plus, India might not want to tinker with what was a winning combination against Australia.
Harshad: “On my way to the stadium from Pune and it has started raining heavily at an hour away. Let’s hope the clouds are moving away from the stadium. ” — Fingers crossed the rain does relent soon. Good thing we have a reserve day lined up, eh?!
1:35pm But before all of that, there is a slight dampener in store. Here’s Sruthi, who is at the venue, with a slightly grim weather update: “Raining here atm but massive crowd nonetheless. Quite heavy. Looks dire at the moment but there’s hopes it’ll clear up soon – at least what forecast says.”
1:30pm To the thousands in attendance, and to the countless others tuning in from around the world, it is time. Time for the main event. 100 overs of cricket. In the city of dreams, and at possibly the theatre of dreams. So, are you ready? I said, are you reeeeaaaaaaddddddyyyy?!!
On the blue side… the hosts. With a billion people in their corner. Bruised earlier, cut earlier, but fresh off dispatching the champions’ challenge in record-breaking fashion. The favourites now. And at handshaking distance with history.
On the other side… only semi-finalists previously but now, in the contest that matters. A couple of knockdowns suffered already, but no knockout yet. And whenever pushed into the ropes, returning with increased vigour. No more knockdowns allowed, though. Not for South Africa. Not for India. This is the final round. Not quite no-holds-barred, but very much one-or-the-other territory.
As long as one wins, the other cannot. As long as one tells this tale with reminiscence, the other can only resort to regret and repentance. If South Africa win, a billion Indian hopes will have been shattered. If India win, a long-manifested dream will have been realized but, at the cost of a nation that will have come so close yet fallen short once more.
Everything to gain. Everything to lose. With everything on the line. Ultimate prize. Ultimate jeopardy. Ultimate stakes. And the ultimate game. To decide who will be world champions. For the first time ever.
I am Shashwat Kumar, with Ashish Pant joining me shortly for ESPNcricinfo’s coverage. So, let’s get ready to rummmbbblllleeeee!
