Double joy for women's cricket queen Diana Edulji

Diana Edulji

January 29 will be etched in former India women's cricket captain Diana Edulji's memory for a couple of reasons - the ladies' historic T20 series victory over world champions Australia Down Under and her final day at Western Railways where she served for 40 years.

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Diana Edulji

Her colleagues made it a memorable farewell for Edulji with firecrackers outside Churchgate station yesterday and her cabin was over-flowing with bouquets and gifts.

"The victory Down Under is the icing on the cake. This is the best farewell gift I could have got. I rate this T20 series win second-best after the 2014 Test series victory in England. There are only three to four senior players while the rest are just one or two series old. To upset the world champions is a huge effort," Edulji told mid-day after Mithali Raj & Co beat Australia by 10 wickets (D/L method) in Melbourne yesterday. Edulji was impressed with the way the Indian team adapted quickly to Australian conditions.

"The players were playing the national and domestic T20 tournaments till January 15. There was no scope to hold a camp for the players. Within a few days they flew to Australia. Their only warm-up match was also washed out.

Convincing victories
"They entered the tournament with almost no clue of the conditions. The best part is that both their wins were very dominating. All this is a good confidence-booster for the ICC World T20 in India," said Edulji.

The former India skipper hopes the side settles soon before the World T20 in March. "I am not very happy with Mithali opening the innings. I feel she is exposing herself too early. I would like to see her bat at No 3.

"I heard the Indian team is going to play a series against Sri Lanka after they come back from Australia. That will be good exposure for them before the World T20," signed off Edulji.