Kaur’s fearless cricket promise fell flat in Dubai


Punjab News


India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has expressed high regard for her squad in the lead-up to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. “There is no shortage of ambition and drive in this team, and we will leave no stone unturned as we look to make a mark and go the distance, playing a fearless brand of cricket,” she stated in her pre-tournament captain’scaptain’s column for ICC.

On Sunday, India secured a significant victory against Pakistan in a match that holds immense importance for both teams. The win not only boosts India’s morale but also reinforces its position in the tournament. However, the manner in which they achieved this victory in Dubai has raised some concerns about the strategies that the Indian management has committed to implementing. Despite the undeniable talent within the squad, questions linger about whether they truly embraced the aggressive and fearless style of play that was promised.

Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian captain, has often referred to this group of players as the best the country has ever sent to a women’s World Cup. Given this acknowledgment, expectations were high for a bold approach in such a crucial matchup. Yet, the performance displayed on the field appeared to fall short of those expectations. As the tournament progresses, it remains to be seen whether the team can align their execution with the ambitions set forth by their leadership, showcasing the talent and potential that has been widely recognized.

In pursuit of 106 runs for victory, India successfully reached their target with seven balls remaining.

India’s 58-run loss to New Zealand had already placed them in a vulnerable spot within the group, lowering their net run rate (NRR) to -2.90. While the victory over Pakistan provided a slight boost to their NRR, raising it to -1.22, it still indicates that they have significant challenges ahead to secure a place in the semifinals. Unfortunately, the team missed a crucial opportunity on Sunday to build a buffer for themselves in the competition.

During the powerplay, Indian batters struggled to find the boundary, managing to hit a total of zero fours. The only time the ball crossed the fence was due to a wide bowled by Fatima Sana, which resulted in five extra runs. Smriti Mandhana, known for her aggressive style, consistently found the fielders instead of the gaps. Shafali Verma also had a tough time, hitting two consecutive full tosses directly to fielders rather than attempting to clear the crowded infield. At the end of the six-over mark, India scored 25 runs for the loss of one wicket, while Pakistan scored 29 runs for two wickets.

India’s tactical decisions raised some eyebrows during the tournament. After trying out different players for the No. 3 position throughout the year, they unexpectedly chose to promote Harmanpreet Kaur for both the warm-up matches and the opener against New Zealand. This move was questionable since Harmanpreet is known for starting slowly but can play aggressively once she settles in. However, after just one match, the management reverted to their previous strategy, placing Jemimah Rodrigues, who has been batting at No. 4 and No. 5, back in the No. 3 spot. If they intended to experiment, it would have made more sense to elevate a power hitter to that position in a game where they clearly needed to improve their net run rate.

India’s Cautious Approach: A Missed Opportunity Against Pakistan

Jemimah excelled by remaining active at the crease, showcasing her skills. However, despite the repeated promises of “”fearless cricket,”” India opted for a cautious approach at every stage of the run chase. Following their loss to New Zealand, it seems that their main goal was simply to secure the safety of two points.

Although the pitches in both Dubai and Sharjah have been challenging for scoring runs, India’s overly cautious strategy drew criticism. While fans can occasionally get overly concerned about run-rate calculations too early, many experts commenting on the game were equally puzzled by the team’s approach.

Former Pakistan captain Sana Mir questioned India’s commitment to running between the wickets, a sentiment echoed by Anjum Chopra, who was confused when the Jemimah-Shafali partnership missed an opportunity to run for two after finding space on the offside. After the drinks break, Australian legend Mel Jones joined the broadcast and began with “Riddle me this,” before asking former India coach WV Raman if he was also surprised by India’s approach. Shortly after, a montage was shown highlighting Shafali’s lack of intent at the non-striker’s end, which often caused India to miss opportunities to pressure Pakistan’s fielders with their running.

“We could have had a better start with the bat, but we’re happy with this result,” said vice-captain Mandhana after the victory. “While we were mindful of our net run rate, Shafali and I struggled to time the ball properly. We didn’t want to find ourselves in a situation where we were chasing the game and creating pressure for ourselves later on. So, we took a more cautious approach. Yes, the net run rate is on our minds,” she added.

Winning against Pakistan in a World Cup is always a significant achievement, regardless of the circumstances. Even in women’s cricket, where the rivalry lacks the deep history seen in the men’s game, every Indian cricketer would agree that facing Pakistan in an ICC event is a unique experience. However, in their immediate pursuit of victory, India may have overlooked the broader implications. How will this affect them in the long run? We’ll find out in a few days after their match against Australia in Sharjah, which could reveal whether small margins will play a crucial role in this challenging group.

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