New Delhi: Former Indian women’s team skipper Diana Edulji on Friday pointed out the thing the Harmanpreet Kaur-led team lacks in order to end their title drought at a global event. The 68-year-old veteran also advised to overcome the Achilles’ heel of facing Australia in the knockout stage.
Indian women will participate in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, scheduled from October 3 to 20. The Women in Blue would aim to win their elusive ICC title, having not won any major tournament in ODIs and T20Is.
India women team had two great opportunities to win an ICC title – 2017 World Cup and 2020 T20 World Cup – but finished as the second best team in both the summit clashes against England and Australia, respectively.
Speaking at the ICC T20 World Cup Trophy Tour event at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Edulji mentioned that the current Indian team will have to improve on a certain aspect, which is maintaining the composure.
“The (Indian) team is good. It’s just that I think they are not able to focus on how to finish the game. Close the doors, don’t leave any chance for anybody to come and try to take the game away from us,” Edulji told news agency PTI.
India women have an underwhelming record while facing the Australia women in T20Is. India has managed to win only seven out of 34 matches they have played against their rivals from Down Under since 2008 in the shortest format. India also lost the semifinal in the 2023 T20 World Cup despite gritty fightback from Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues in the 173-run chase.
Explaining how India can overcome the Australia juggernaut, Edulji said:
“Australia is a very professional side. They have the spirit to play hard. We as a team need to get it into our mind that we have to play to win and they have to play out of their skins.”
“Yes, every team is strong. On any given day anybody can win a T20, so it’s going to be very easy for some batters or the others coming in and just turning the game on.”
Harmanpreet Kaur will have to control her emotions: Diana Edulji
India lost the women’s Asia Cup final to Sri Lanka by eight wickets as left-handers Chamari Athapathuthu and Harshitha Samarawickrama scored fifties. It was a massive disappointment for Harmanpreet Kaur & Co. as they were touted as favourites to lift the continental cup.
Edulji, who has earlier been critical of Harmanpreet Kaur’s on-field aggressive behaviour, advised the Indian skipper to get better of her emotions while leading the team on the pitch.
“She is a very good player who can win the game on her own. She has proved it time and again. But she will have to lead with a strong hand and control her emotions a little bit on the field. She is capable of making the right changes — right bowling changes, right field placements. Batting, of course, is not in her hands,” Edulji said.
“It’s up to the batters to do their job. But the captaincy on the field while fielding is very, very important,” she added.
Edulji, who played 20 Tests and 34 ODIs for India between 1976 and 1993, said that it will be a remarkable achievement if India women can add the T20 World Cup after the Rohit Sharma-led men’s team won the trophy earlier in June this year.
“What a moment it would be if, after winning the men’s T20 World Cup, we could also secure the Women’s T20 World Cup. It would be a remarkable achievement, and I’m sure the BCCI would love to have both the trophies in their showcase here,” she said.
Former Indian women’s team skipper Diana Edulji on Friday pointed out the thing the Harmanpreet Kaur-led team lacks in order to end their title drought at a global event. The 68-year-old veteran also advised to overcome the Achilles’ heel of facing Australia in the knockout stage. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
