India Women’s World Cup campaign is at a critical juncture. After a disappointing loss to New Zealand and a narrow win over Pakistan, questions are being raised about the team’s approach. With momentum elusive and tactical issues at play, India’s path forward looks challenging.
A Struggle to Accelerate
India’s performance against Pakistan epitomized their overly cautious approach. The team was chasing 26 off 27 balls when they lost two wickets in quick succession. Despite having the hard-hitting Sajana in the squad, it was Deepti Sharma who walked out to bat, adopting a conservative strategy. The lack of aggressive intent, especially in such a manageable situation, left fans and experts puzzled.
India’s chase saw only three attempts at aggressive shots in the first six overs. While this safety-first approach may have been a reaction to their previous struggles against New Zealand, it clearly backfired, as the team failed to capitalize on moments where they could have closed out the game quickly.
Lessons from Rohit Sharma’s Playbook
Harmanpreet Kaur and her team could take a page out of Rohit Sharma’s playbook. After India’s semi-final exit at the 2022 T20 World Cup, Rohit emphasized intent and aggression, qualities that propelled India to success in subsequent tournaments. For India’s women’s team to emulate this success, they must adopt a more attacking mindset, especially when the opportunity to seal a game presents itself.
Issues in the Batting Order and Fielding
One of the major areas of concern is the team’s batting order. Harmanpreet, who was initially slated to play at No. 3, was replaced by Jemimah Rodrigues against Pakistan. Now with Harmanpreet nursing a neck injury, there’s added uncertainty. The potential inclusion of Yastika Bhatia could shake things up, but her lack of match time raises concerns.
Furthermore, India’s fielding, particularly their catching, has come under scrutiny. For a team aspiring to win the World Cup, these basic errors need immediate rectification.
Facing the Giants
India’s next challenge is Sri Lanka, a team that has already proven tough competition by defeating them in the Women’s Asia Cup final. Even if India manages to win that game, they may still find themselves in a precarious position, potentially needing to defeat Australia by a specific margin to qualify for the next stage. Relying on New Zealand to beat Australia is not a position any team wants to be in.
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Can India Turn Things Around?
India Women’s World Cup It’s clear that India has some serious issues to address. Whether it’s refining their batting order, improving their fielding, or adopting a more aggressive mindset, the team needs to find its rhythm—and fast. With the tournament still wide open, India has time to correct course, but every decision will be critical.
As Harmanpreet Kaur has said, they want to emulate Rohit Sharma’s team. But for that, they need to show intent and make brave decisions, starting with the game against Sri Lanka. Only then will they stand a chance against the formidable Australians, should it come to that.
