View source for Pride Of India: Women apos;s Cricketers Hailed For T20 Campaign

India reached the final for the first time at the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia<br>  <br>India has rallied behind its women's cricket team, hailing their efforts in the T20 World Cup despite a crushing loss to Australia in the final.<br> <br>Harmanpreet Kaur's side lost to the defending champions by 85 runs in front of more than 86,000 fans -- a record attendance for women's cricket -- at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.<br> <br>Despite the defeat it was a successful World Cup for the team, who reached the final for the first time and whose star batter, 16-year-old Shafali Verma, moved to the top of the world rankings during the tournament.<br> <br>Indian cricket chief Sourav Ganguly praised the women for making the final, a month after the men's under-19s were runners-up in the 50-over World Cup.<br> <br>"Well done the Women's team @bcci @JayShah .. Two back to back World Cup finals .. but we lost," Ganguly tweeted.<br> <br>"We're super .. we will get there someday .. love the team and players."<br> <br>Men's captain Virat Kohli said he was "proud" of the women, who went into the final unbeaten and had outplayed Australia in the opening game of the tournament.<br> <br>"Proud of all the efforts put in by the Indian Women's Cricket Team throughout their #T20WorldCup campaign. I'm confident that you girls will bounce back stronger than ever," Kohli tweeted.<br> <br>Nothing went right on Sunday for  [https://allinfootballncricket.blogspot.com/2020/06/sachin-tendulkar-bowling-record.html https://allinfootballncricket.blogspot.com/2020/06/sachin-tendulkar-bowling-record.html] India, who lost the toss and then watched as Verma dropped Alyssa Healy in the first over.<br> <br>Healy went on to smash 75 off 39 balls to get the player of the match award.<br> <br>Australia marched to a record fifth women's T20 World Cup title after posting 184 for four.<br><br>India were sent packing for just 99 in reply.<br> <br>"It was a tough day for #TeamIndia. Our team is young and will grow into a solid unit. You have inspired many across the globe," retired batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar wrote on Twitter.<br> <br>"We are proud of you. Keep working hard and never lose hope. It will happen one day."<br> <br>A teary-eyed Verma was consoled by her team-mates as she left the field.<br><br>Kaur said the young team had a bright future.<br> <br>"In the last T20 World Cup we reached the semis and this year in the finals. If we keep working and improving then in the future we will win," said Kaur.<br> <br>"You see our team is quite young. Young girls are coming and giving a 100 percent for the team. And I think this (making the finals) will motivate many girls back home and they will come and play cricket."<br>