Women's World Cup: Women in Blue on cusp of their 'Chak De' moment

With a world ranking of four and an average win record against the top teams like Australia, England and New Zealand, there were not many who were backing the Indian women for a spot in the finals of the ICC Women's World Cup.

After all, statistics were loaded against the women in blue, what with a less than 50 per cent strike rate against the top contenders.

But, in cricket, it is often said, statistics don't matter much — it is how the two teams perform on a given day is what matters.

Kapil Devils proved that in 1983, Mithali Raj's team may very well do it on Sunday. It could be their Chak De moment!

What makes this team special is that every time when needed, at least one player has played a special part. If it was Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma and Poonam Raut in the earlier part of the tournament, Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Harmanpreet Kaur joined the party soon.

And, Captain Cool, Mithali Raj remains the binding force, leading by example. While the other cricketers have shone at different stages, skipper Raj has been consistent with 392 runs in eight games with three half-centuries and a century.

In between, she also took time out to break the Internet, after she shut down a reporter who asked her a sexist question.

"Do you ask the same question to a male cricketer?" Mithali replied when a reporter asked who was her favourite male cricketer was. "I have always been asked who's your favourite cricketer but you should ask them who their favourite female cricketer is," she added.

The ladies have shown guts and have raised the hopes of an entire nation -- also due to the blistering knock of 171 not out by Harmanpreet against Australia.

While cricket is a team sport, it was individual brilliance at different junctures that helped India make their second World Cup final after 2005.

It began with India beating the favourites England in a tough game followed by another win over the West Indies. In both games, there was a left-hander who was starred with her match-winning knocks of 90 and 106* that made many compare her to the graceful Sourav Ganguly. And that girl was none other than Mandhana.

So, when India faltered with bat in the high-profile game against Pakistan, scoring just 169/9 in 50 overs, it was Ekta Bisht's left-arm spin that helped them get better of arch-rival by 95-runs, thanks to her five-wicket haul.

After beating Sri Lanka easily thanks to the team's baby Sharma's all-round performance, India felt back-to-back jolts at the hands of South Africa and Australia.

Against South Africa, the Indians failed to chase 273, while Raut's century went in vain in the following crucial game versus Australia.

In a virtual quarterfinal situation against a strong New Zealand side, the in-form Raj struck her tournament's first century and gave India a semifinal berth as India bowled out the Kiwis for a mere 79 chasing India's 265.

And while the semifinal was all about Harmanpreet, on Sunday, the entire nation will wait with bated breath for one final hurrah!