Women’s World Cup: India looking ahead after last-ball heartache

India were knocked out of the World Cup in New Zealand after a three-wicket defeat to South Africa was sealed with the final ball of the game as Mignon du Preez’s unbeaten 52 took the Proteas over the line.

South Africa had already secured second place and a spot in the semi-finals and they are joined by unbeaten Australia, who took a maximum 14 points from the group stage, as well as England and the West Indies, who qualified after India failed to defend 274 for seven.

But for India, after a time of reflection, Raj and her side will look ahead to the next event.

“I think as players and as a team, we look forward to rebuilding and to try to give our best whenever we compete in the next big event.

“Every ICC event is an opportunity for the team to do well because these events are followed by everybody around the world and opportunity for all the cricket lovers to look up to women cricketers to play the best standard.

“And it’s our job as players to put our best standard out there so that many young girls take up the sport so it’s an opportunity as players that we look forward to doing our best in these events.”

The 39-year-old refused to speculate on her future of that of fellow veteran Jhulan Goswami, who missed her first game in five World Cups with a side strain.

India’s other seamers, Meghna Singh and Pooja Vastrakar, were unable to make inroads as South Africa chased 275, but part-time spinner Harmanpreet Kaur pulled her side back into the contest with the big wickets of Laura Wolvaardt and skipper Sune Luus.

Wolvaardt was the day’s top scorer with 80 which laid the foundations for South Africa’s remarkable chase after Smriti Mandhana and Raj had posted 71 and 68 respectively in India’s total.

Reflecting on the