The Indian girls have certainly done India proud, having become the first ladies team from the sub-continent to reach the final of the World Cup. Though they were comprehensively beaten by Australia in the summit clash, there was plenty to cheer about.

The team that has done India proud is about to face one of its most gruelling seasons of recent times. While they have generally performed well of late, three series against three good sides will definitely test their consistency and character. The tussles will also give them a wonderful opportunity to make a huge impact in a land where cricket is still considered a male domain, and to reaffirm that their recent success has been no less commendable, despite their failure to garner the same amount of intensity amongst the spectators as their male counterparts. It is sad that a majority of the so-called cricket-lovers in the country are ignorant of the success and honour the ladies have brought to the nation.

The hectic season kicks off with a tour by England in late November. After this series, the Indian team will fly down under for what promise to be challenging series against Australia and New Zealand. Australia, the reigning world champions, and the Kiwis, the 'dethroned' world champions, will be formidable opponents, but then, Mithali Raj and her girls are more than capable of putting their adversaries under the pump.

After the battles down under, The Indians will proceed on a tour of England in mid-2006 and New Zealand will come over to India at the end of the same year.

One hopes that the girls will return home victorious.