Harmanpreet Kaur set to become the first captain to lead a side in World Cup final on birthday

The Indian cricket team created history on Thursday as they became the first women team from the country to qualify in the finals of the T20 World Cup. The writing was always on the wall, as far as the weather is concerned.

And, it lived up to its expectations to the hilt, much to the disappointment of the English team and their fans but to the absolute ecstasy for Harmanpreet Kaur and her Women in Blue. The first semi-final was called-off without the toss and by virtue of India finishing Group B at the top of the pile courtesy four back-to-back wins against Australia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand, made their way into the finals for the first time after having lost three semi-finals in 2009, 10 and 2018.

And, so March 08 will be a special day in more than one way for Harmanpreet Kaur as it will be the first-ever instance of a captain leading his/her team on birthday in any ICC World event final [ODI/T20I/U19 CWCs/Champions Trophy].

Harmanpreet Kaur will be leading India in the ICC Women's T20 CWC final on her 31st birthday. (March 8th)

It will be the first-ever instance of a captain leading his/her team on birthday in any ICC World event final [ODI/T20I/U19 CWCs, Champions Trophy]. #ICCT20WorldCup

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) March 5, 2020

This is the first time India has reached the finals of the T20 World Cup

India will now have to wait for the culmination of the second semi-final between Australia and South Africa, scheduled later in the day. That game is also under severe rain threat and if it also ends up in a damp squib, then the defending champions will be knocked out of the tournament and South Africa will make their way into their maiden finals as they finished Group A– much like India– at the top of the pile.

Unlike the 2019 men’s World Cup, the International Cricket Council (ICC) did not schedule reserve-day for the semi-finals. Last year, reserve day had come in handy during the first semi-final between India and New Zealand as persistent rain forced it to be a two-day affair. The rules to constitute a game in case of rain-curtailed fixtures are also different in this tournament.

While a normal rain-curtailed T20I fixture requires a minimum of five overs/side to constitute a match, in this tournament, a minimum of ten overs per side is a prime requisite. That said, reserve day has been added to finals in-case rain plays havoc on March 08 at the MCG.