The Indian women’s team are currently in a fix as their campaign didn’t have the best of starts in the T20 World Cup 2024. A 58-run drubbing at the hands of Sophie Devine’s New Zealand has left them tottering at the bottom of the Group A points table. The defeat has also stung their net-run rate, -2.9, and they need to snap back to avoid a stern dependency on other teams’ match results towards the end of the group stage.
Decoding India’s terrible loss in their campaign opener, leg-spinner Poonam Yadav opined that the Kiwis did their homework much better than India. Answering a News18 CricketNext query in the latest episode of Star Sports Press Room, Yadav explained. In contrast, others expected dew to play a part in the second innings, New Zealand captain Sophie Devine probably had the idea that it would not.
“I thought we had already made up our mindset that since it is an evening game, there would be a due factor, but if you look at the New Zealand team, they have done their homework very well. New Zealand batted first and we thought there would be a due factor, but when I said after the toss, I said that maybe Sophie Devine knew due won’t come into play. So, they batted first. Once they scored 160, it was said that India have never chased,” Yadav said.
“So, I think you need to do your homework properly when you are performing at such a big stage. Whether it’s your bowling or batting, you should focus a little more on those things rather than thinking about whether the conditions are in your favour or not,” she added.
Loss to White Ferns a Big Lesson
India will now lock horns with arch-rivals Pakistan in their second group A fixture on Sunday. Sana Fatima’s team had a contrasting beginning to their World Cup journey wherein they jolted Asian champions Sri Lanka in the opening game, registering a clinical 31-run win in Sharjah on Thursday. The confidence achieved from the victory would reflect against India.
However, Yadav, who has been a part of that Indian dressing room, believes a strong comeback from Harmanpreet & Co in the mouth-watering clash against Pakistan on Sunday.
“The Indian women’s team will bounce back because, after a big loss in the first match, as an Indian, you always come back stronger. I believe the team will learn a lot from this first loss and make a strong comeback,” Yadav said.
“The first match doesn’t decide anything, but now it’s important to maintain a good run rate in the remaining matches. You have to win decisively and come back stronger. Your preparation needs to be solid, and the comeback must be impactful. You have to overcome all obstacles to stay competitive in this tournament,” she added.
Harmanpreet Would be Ideal for No. 4
For a change, Indian skipper Harmanpreet promoted herself up the order at number three while chasing 161 against New Zealand on Friday. But the move seemed to throttling the entire batting order. The Indian captain could muster only 15 off 14 before Rosemary Mair trapped her in front.
Yadav opined that sending Jemimah at no. 3 would be more suitable followed by Harmanpreet batting at 4 so that the duo can create the chance and finish the game in India’s favour.
“I would prefer Jemimah to bat at No. 3 because she can make use of the field when only two fielders are outside the circle. Harmanpreet is better suited for big hitting, whereas Jemimah can rotate strike with singles and doubles and take advantage of loose balls and convert it into a 4 or 6. No. 3 is a crucial position, so having Jemimah there and Harmanpreet at No. 4 would be ideal, as you need both a good finisher and someone who can hit big,” Yadav added.
Catch all the action of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 – India vs Pakistan, 6th October 2024, from 3:30 PM onwards, LIVE & Exclusive on Star Sports Network and Disney+ Hotstar
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