Analysing team India's performance in Women's T20 World Cup 2024?

Before the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 began, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her confidence, declaring this their best-ever squad. However, India’s campaign fell short of expectations, as they were eliminated in the group stage, finishing third in Group A.

India’s first match on 4th October was against New Zealand, where India struggled to contain the Kiwi batters. Despite Renuka Singh’s solid bowling effort of 2 for 27, New Zealand posted a competitive total of 160, courtesy of Sophie Devine’s unbeaten 57 off 36. India’s chase faltered early, with three wickets lost in the powerplay. Rosemary Mair’s 4 for 19 and Lea Tahuhu’s 3 for 15 dismantled India’s batting order, resulting in a crushing 58-run defeat. The loss also severely impacted India’s net run rate (NRR), placing them on the back foot.

In their second match, India faced Pakistan. Led by Arundhati Reddy’s superb 3 for 19, India’s bowlers dominated, restricting Pakistan to 105. Nida Dar’s fighting 28 helped Pakistan recover slightly after a poor start. India’s chase was steady, with Shafali Verma anchoring the innings with a composed 32 off 35, and Jemimah Rodrigues (23 off 28) adding creativity to the chase. Despite a brief injury scare for Harmanpreet Kaur (29* off 24), India comfortably reached 108 with seven balls to spare. However, the margin of victory had little impact on their NRR, and India remained under pressure in the group.

Next up was Sri Lanka, and India rose to the occasion. After winning the toss, Harmanpreet Kaur led her team to a commanding total of 172. Shafali Verma (43 off 40) gave India a solid start, while Smriti Mandhana (50 off 38) found form with a crucial half-century. Harmanpreet’s unbeaten 52 off 27 balls powered India’s total to a competitive score. Shreyanka Patil took the wicket of Chamari Athapaththu and Radha Yadav took one of the best catches of the tournament to dismiss Vishmi Gunaratne and hence helped in sending back the openers cheaply. India’s bowlers, led by Arundhati Reddy and Asha Sobhana, who took 3 for 19 each, dominated Sri Lanka as they were bowled out for just 90. This massive win gave India a much-needed boost, both in points and NRR, putting them in second place in the group.

The wait for an ICC Trophy continues for Indian Women’s Cricket team 😔#CricketTwitter #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/FvsRCeiMyI

— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) October 14, 2024

In their final group match, India faced six-time champions Australia. Asked to bowl first, India’s bowlers, especially Deepti Sharma (2 for 28) and Renuka Singh (2 for 24), were crucial in restricting Australia to 151. In response, Shafali Verma (20 off 13) gave India a brisk start, but Smriti Mandhana’s early struggles put pressure on the team. Harmanpreet Kaur fought valiantly with a gritty unbeaten 54 off 47, supported by Deepti Sharma’s 29 off 25. The duo added 63 runs, keeping India in the game. However, Sophie Molineux’s timely dismissal of Deepti Sharma and Annabel Sutherland’s brilliant final over ensured Australia’s narrow 9-run victory. The loss meant India had to depend on the outcome of the last match between New Zealand and Pakistan to advance.

✅ Australia
✅ New Zealand
❌ India
❌ Pakistan
❌ Sri Lanka#CricketTwitter #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/pqch0BOiGY

— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) October 14, 2024

In a crucial final group match, New Zealand set a modest target of 111 for Pakistan. Had Pakistan chased the total within 10.4 overs, they would have qualified, otherwise India would have gone through. However, New Zealand convincingly defeated Pakistan by 54 runs, securing their place in the semi-finals along with Australia. This result ended India’s hopes of progressing, marking a disappointing end to their campaign.

What do you think went wrong for India in their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign? 🤔#CricketTwitter #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/6AkjWAeGCE

— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) October 14, 2024

Despite entering the tournament with high hopes, India’s inability to capitalize on key moments and the reliance on other results proved costly. While there were standout performances, especially from Harmanpreet Kaur and the bowling attack, the lack of consistency in crucial matches led to their early exit.