The Indian women’s cricket team failed to make it to the semifinals of the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 as they finished third in Group A behind Australia and New Zealand, who both advanced.
The women in blue managed to get the better of Sri Lanka and Pakistan but lost their fixtures against the Aussies and the Kiwis to exit the tournament in the UAE.
What felt particularly worrisome was the No.3 conundrum as the Indian unit never settled for a designated batter at the crucial position.
Skipper Harmanpreet Singh came out to bat at 1-down against NZ and SL, while Jemimah Rodrigues was promoted up the order for India’s games against Pakistan and Australia, which backfired.
Former Indian cricketer Anjum Chopra opined that the roulette played a huge part in the Indian side’s early exit from the T20 showpiece.
“Absolutely bizarre. I didn’t think that that Indian team would actually be in such a conundrum. I just question, ‘why?’ I’m not questioning the team management, but I’m just questioning the scenario which I see when I sit in the commentary box or when I sit at home and watch the Indian team play – like why cause such confusion around, and what is the need for it?”
Chopra added that the alternations and switches affected star batters Harmanpreet and Rodrigues, who did not live up to their potential in UAE.
“India has always had this challenge of not promoting Harmanpreet at number three. I’ve never understood that fetish and repeatedly things have happened where she has not been sent at number three. I feel that Harman should go at number three. Maybe that’s my feeling, but I’m not the one who’s calling the shots. Rightly so, it’s the people who have to decide keeping the team’s balance into perspective and understand what is the best for the team.”
“In that scenario also, it’s best to send Harmanpreet at number three because she can control the game from the top, and gets more time. The kind of player that she is, she’ll get more time to structure it. Even if Harmanpreet was not the choice, my only thought is like we spent the entire 10-12 months looking at who that number three fit could be,” she added.
Chopra also added that the India side had shot itself in the foot trying to work in multiple batters in the crucial role, which ended up having an adverse impact of the composition of the team.
“We tried different options who don’t even figure in the playing eleven eventually. So don’t we feel that we’ve wasted all that time? When the crunch situation happened, we are looking for options again,” the 47-year-old said.
“So it’s not only disturbing Harmanpreet who probably would have prepared for that position prior to the New Zealand game. I don’t think she played badly. Yes, she didn’t play for long. But the next game again, Jemimah, who’s probably preparing to play in the middle order role, is removed from that role and asked to play in the number three position,” Chopra continued.
“So you’re actually changing two people and still not being able to do the job which is required. We’re still very conservative in our approach. If number three has to be promoted, then if not Harmanpreet, then there are batters who we call as power-hitters in that lineup. They could be promoted. Things could have been done differently.”
The challenges faced by the Indian middle order were laid bare during the side’s loss to Australia, which left India on the cusp of elimination.
“England had that challenge as well. But it’s not that they didn’t take up the challenge. 141 on the board for what England scored against West Indies in the last league game. Despite their top three really not firing, which they have been doing, 141 was not a bad target on a pitch where they did not play a single game. But at least that effort was there. They were not looking like, helter skelter, so what now will happen?”
Chopra acknowledged that there will always be questions following a defeat, but also reiterated that the team which has prepared better would eventually come out on top.
“If everybody gets the chance to play in the 20 overs, then we’ll also start questioning what our batters are trying to do and how they are scoring and not scoring. There will always be a questions from our side, but it’s about knowing exactly what your role is. T20 game will always keep asking and throwing challenges at you as a player, batter, and bowler. You have to just be prepared. Whichever team or individual is better prepared, they will always come out trumps on top,” she continued.
She also spoke about the responsibility of the players to step up and be held accountable for their performances.
“At least that effort of getting better from where you were in the last event, that effort needs to showcase. It’s not about always winning or losing. It’s about have you as an individual become better at your skill? Have you been able to counter the situation that you were faced in the last time you were in a similar scenario? Are you better placed to handle that situation? Yes or no? If you are, very good. If you are not, then that means that is what is raising an alarm for me rather than many other things,” Chopra signed off.
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