'It wasn't just the no-ball' - Virender Sehwag opens up after India's heartbreaking ouster from Women's World Cup 2022

India Women suffered a heartbreaking three-wicket defeat at the hands of South Africa in the final league game of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on March 27. The loss all but brought curtains down on the Indian eves’ campaign as they got knocked out of the tpurnament.

It was a case of so-near-yet-so-far for the Mithali Raj-led side, but it was a front foot no-ball from Deepti Sharma in the final over that was the turning point of the match. Meanwhile, former India opener Virender Sehwag has come forward and elaborated on how these no-balls have cost India dearly in crunch ICC knockout games in the last few years.

He shared a few screenshots of the Indian men’s team’s past front foot no-ball blunders in the knockout matches of the ICC tournaments due to which they ended up on the losing side.

Disappointing end to India’s campaign: Virender Sehwag

Apart from Deepti Sharma’s latest incident, the screenshot also included no-ball stills from the T20 World Cup 2016 semi-final against the West Indies by off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and that of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah crossing the line in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final against arch-rivals Pakistan, when Fakhar Zaman got a reprieve and went on to make a match-winning century.

“It wasn’t just the no-ball which cost India the game today but sometimes an inch costs moments that takes decades to achieve and are possibly once in a lifetime achievement for many players. Disappointing end to India’s campaign”, wrote Sehwag.

It wasn't just the no ball which cost India the game today but sometimes an inch costs moments that takes decades to achieve and are possibly once in a lifetime achievement for many players. Disappointing end to India's campaign #IndvSA #cwc22 pic.twitter.com/2DzerovJD1

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) March 27, 2022

Chasing a mammoth 275, Mignon du Preez had kept South Africa in the hunt despite running out of partners towards the backend of the chase as the match went right down to the wire. Indian skipper Mithali Raj gave the ball to Deepti Sharma in the final over and she kept things tight before dismissing du Preez on the penultimate delivery.

The South African batter decided to end the proceedings in style as she advanced down the wicket to dispatch a tossed-up delivery into the stands only to find Harmanpreet Kaur at long-on. India celebrated but their celebrations were short-lived as replays showed that the bowler had overstepped. Mignon du Preez made the most of her reprieve and hit the winning runs for the Proteas.