New Delhi: Despite reaching the semi-finals in each of the last three T20 World Cups, Indian women are yet to taste success at the Women’s T20 World Cup. What better time to end the curse than to win the elusive trophy in the same year as the men’s team? When Harmanpreet Kaur’s side takes the field in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, they will be aiming to replicate the performance of Rohit Sharma’s men in the Caribbean earlier this year.
The Women in Blue will kick off their campaign against New Zealand in their opening Group A match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday. A strong performance against the Kiwiws will be a perfect start in their quest to erase the memories of past near-misses.
Having reached the semi-finals of the past three editions and finished as the runner-up in 2020, India are well-accustomed to playing in the big knockout games. However, winning when it matters the most will be the top agenda of the Asian giants.
India need to overcome the mental barrier
As has been the case before, the Indian line-up is rich in talent and a boasts a good mixture of experience and youth. But that is not enough to win big tournaments. India have been guilty of buckling under pressure in crunch moments and letting good opportunities go by in the past. Staying mentally tough in clutch moments will be crucial for the Women in Blue.
The Indian team held a preparatory camp at the NCA (National Cricket Academy) with a few counselling sessions to address this issue.
While the sessions would have been helpful, the application and execution of the strategy as well as staying calm in pressure situations on the field would be important for the Women In Blue.
A victory against New Zealand, the two-time runners-up, would be a pre-requisite for India in a group that also comprises Australia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
India bank on big guns
India would be reliant on big contributions from their top guns such as Harmanpreet, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma.
While Mandhana, with three fifties in her last five T20I innings, has been in excellent touch, the rest need to shake off poor form and step up on the big stage.
Harmanpreet and Shafali, especially, need to find form quickly to lead India’s charge at the top and middle order.
In the bowling department, India are likely to pick a spin-heavy squad on the slow and weary tracks in the UAE and select two from the pace trio of Renuka Singh, Pooja Vastrakar and Arundhati Reddy in the playing XI.
With great variety in the spin department, India will rely heavily on off-spinners Deepti and Shreyanka Patil, leg-spinner Asha Shobhana and left-arm spinner Radha Yadav.
Can Harmanpreet emulate Rohit?
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, 35, in all likelihood, will be playing her last T20 World Cup. After experiencing several near misses and heartbreaks, including India’s capitulation against red-hot favourites Australia in the final at Melbourne in 2020, Harmanpreet would be eager to go out on a high just like Rohit Sharma did earlier this year by breaking the World Cup curse in the Americas.
IND-W vs NZ-W match starts at 7.30 PM IST on October 4, Friday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Women’s T20 World Cup 2024: India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, 35, would be eager to go out on a high just like Rohit Sharma did earlier this year by breaking the World Cup curse in the Americas. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
