NAVI MUMBAI, 2 November (H.S.): South Africa's captain, Laura Wolvaardt, stated on Saturday that the pressure will be squarely on India in the Women's ODI World Cup final due to the expectations of a large home crowd. Speaking ahead of Sunday's championship match, Wolvaardt emphasized that her team's strategy will be to remain composed amidst the noise and excitement.

Wolvaardt believes the passionate support for the Indian team in what is expected to be a sold-out stadium in Navi Mumbai will also create a high-pressure environment for the hosts. They have the whole country behind them, and sort of expect them to win. I think it sort of plays in our favour, hopefully, she said. Her message to her teammates is to stay calm, do the basics right, and hold their nerve for longer.

This will be South Africa's first-ever ODI World Cup final, but they have reached the final of the last two T20 World Cups. Wolvaardt said the team has learned from those experiences and is focused on staying in the present moment rather than thinking about the trophy.

Reflecting on their journey to the final, which included bouncing back from heavy defeats, Wolvaardt noted the team's resilience. She also highlighted the potential impact of a World Cup victory on women's cricket in South Africa, expressing hope that it would inspire a new generation of players back home.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar