Indian women's team receives overwhelming reception at Shivaji International Airport

Mumbai: The Indian women’s team received an overwhelming reception with fans turning out in big numbers at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. The team came from England in batches with the first one coming as early as 2.30 am but that didn’t stop fans flocking the airport.

“It’s overwhelming to see such kind of reception, it’s first of kind for all of us. In 2005 when we were not under BCCI we also got good reception. I was wondering had we been under BCCI at that time what kind of reaction we would get,” said Mithali.

“Girls would have enjoyed being received like that, it is just a beginning of good time for women’s cricket. They always deserved this attention, now because of broadcasting and televising of the game it is more, coming under BCCI has made a difference,” Mithali who scored 409 runs in the tournament and became leading run-scorer in women’s One-day Internationals, said.

“The way the girls have played, Indian and other teams have put up good standard of cricket in World Cup and it has given impetus to women cricket globally, it has given us more positive feedback. Now is the time to start some type of league and involve domestic players,” she said.

Mithali was named skipper of ICC women’s cricket World Cup XI but she revealed she would have preferred to lift title for India. “It is not easy to lead national side. It is a privilege to be lead World XI but I would have preferred leading India to title. But proudly I can say I led the team well and credit goes to girls who responded to challenges well,” she said.

With Twenty20 World Cup lined-up next year in West Indies, the 34-year-old felt India has long way to go in the shortest format. “We couldn’t reach Super Six (stage) at home in 2013 (World Cup) so we wanted to do well this time. India has a long way to go in T20 format but we will like to do better, for that the preparations have to start right now,” she added.