South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt has set the tone ahead of Sunday’s Women’s ODI World Cup final against India, saying she hopes her team can silence the home crowd just like Pat Cummins did in last year’s men’s final in Ahmedabad.
Speaking to reporters at the DY Patil Stadium on the eve of the big match, Wolvaardt said her team is keen to create history by winning their first-ever World Cup title.
“It will be a very tough match with the entire crowd behind India. It will probably be a sold-out stadium. But that also brings pressure for them,” she said with a smile. “Hopefully we win. I think that will shut them up.”
Her comment immediately reminded fans of Cummins’ famous comment ahead of the 2023 World Cup final, when the Australian captain had said he wanted to “silence 100,000 Indian fans” and then did just that.
Wolvaardt, who was in excellent form throughout the tournament with more than 470 runs, said her team is not thinking about past results.
“Knockout cricket is very different from league matches. We have seen players do special things under pressure. We just want to play good cricket and stay calm,” she said.
The 25-year-old admitted that India, boosted by home support and recent form, will be tough to beat. However, she believes her players have learned to handle pressure and are ready for the challenge.
“It’s important to stay in the moment. There will be noise and nerves but it’s still just a game of cricket. The team that does the basics better will come out on top,” she added.
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