Ahead of the T20 World Cup, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed confidence in her squad, calling it their best-ever team for the World Cup. However, India’s campaign ended in disappointment as they were eliminated in the group stage. Former Indian captain Mithali Raj voiced concerns about the team’s bench strength and addressed the ongoing discussions about a potential change in captaincy, advocating for a younger leader in the future.
India’s journey in the tournament was marked by early challenges, making their path to the semi-finals difficult. After losing the opening match to New Zealand by 58 runs, India’s net run rate took a significant hit. However, they bounced back by defeating Pakistan by 6 wickets, securing two crucial points. In their third game, India continued their momentum with a commanding 82-run victory over Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka, moving to second place in the group standings with four points.
Despite a valiant effort, India lost their final group match, a “do-or-die” clash against defending champions Australia, by just 9 runs. Although this defeat didn’t drastically affect their net run rate, it left them stuck with four points. In the final Group A match, New Zealand’s 54-run win over Pakistan gave them six points, ending India’s hopes of reaching the semi-final. This marked the first time since 2016 that India failed to qualify for the semi-finals, and the first such instance under Harmanpreet’s captaincy.
Harmanpreet Kaur delivered an impressive performance with the bat, scoring 150 runs across four innings, including a crucial 54* against Australia and 52* against Sri Lanka, earning Player of the Match honors. She maintained a strike rate of 133.92 and an average of 150. In bowling, Arundhati Reddy and Renuka Singh were the standout performers, each taking seven wickets. However, inconsistent performances in key matches led to India’s early exit from the tournament.
With just 3 matches to go, the race to stay at the top is getting intense! 🥵#CricketTwitter #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/qEh8HocFjv
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Mithali Raj critiqued the lack of opportunities given to bench players during the Asia Cup, particularly against lower-ranked teams. India had fielded almost the same squad for the World Cup as they did for the Asia Cup, with Shreyanka Patil and Yastika Bhatia returning from injury. Mithali highlighted that the Asia Cup should have been used as a final opportunity to fine-tune strategies ahead of the World Cup. She emphasized the importance of planning, especially identifying key players for crucial roles like the No. 5 or No. 6. Mithali also compared this approach to the men’s team, which frequently rotates players to build depth and provide opportunities.
Mithali Raj in her chat with PTI questioned, “We could have given more opportunities to the bench against lower-ranked teams in the Asia Cup, but we didn’t. Why does the men’s team do well? Immediately after a big series or a big tournament, they try others. If we are talking about depth, then when are we giving them chances?”
Regarding the ongoing captaincy debate, Mithali suggested that if a change were to be made, a younger player should be chosen to lead the team, and the decision should be made promptly, especially with the 2025 ODI World Cup approaching. Delaying the decision, she warned, could leave too little time for the new captain to settle in and prepare for the tournament.
Mithali said, “If the selectors decide to change, I would go for a young captain.”
Mithali also praised Jemimah Rodrigues for her leadership potential, citing her energy, communication on the field, and ability to influence the game even when playing smaller roles. At just 24, Mithali believes Rodrigues could be a strong candidate for future leadership.
🗣 Former India captain Mithali Raj when asked if the selectors should move on from Harmanpreet Kaur and appoint someone younger? #CricketTwitter #T20WorldCup Source: PTI pic.twitter.com/o1pSoOkKX4
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Mithali expressed, “Smriti (vice-captain since 2016) is there but I think someone like Jemimah, she’s 24, she’s young, she will serve you more… I was very impressed by her in this tournament,”
Mithali further expressed concern over the team’s lack of growth in recent years, despite some success. She pointed out that while India has beaten certain teams, the focus should be on preparing to defeat the best sides, rather than being satisfied with lesser victories.
She mentioned, “I feel that in the last two-three years, I’ve not really seen any growth in this team. In the sense, like, I mean, beating the best side is what you always prepare for, but it seems like we are saturated in the sense we are beating other teams, and we are pretty happy in that.”
(Quotes sourced from PTI)
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