In an exhilarating encounter in Visakhapatnam on October 12, Australia achieved a record chase in the Women’s World Cup, successfully chasing down a challenging 331 with an over to spare. Despite India putting up an impressive total of 330, captain Harmanpreet Kaur believes her team fell short by 30-40 runs, particularly due to a poor finish in the final overs.
Harmanpreet Kaur Reflects on Missed Opportunities
India began their innings in dominant fashion, reaching 394/4 by the 44th over. However, they were unable to capitalize on their strong start, managing just 36 runs in the final six overs. Worse, they were bowled out with seven balls to spare, which Harmanpreet Kaur believes cost them some crucial runs that could have made a difference.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Kaur admitted, “We thought if we could have added another 30-40 runs, we would have had a more competitive total. We lost wickets in the last few overs, and that really cost us because the pitch was very good for batting. The last six overs were particularly tough for us, and we couldn’t execute our plans.”
Her comments echoed the team’s overall frustration, with the captain highlighting that while the first 40 overs were solid, the team failed to finish strongly. “In matches like these, you’re not always going to be 100%. It’s important to bounce back and learn from such experiences,” she added.
Coach Amol Muzumdar Emphasizes the Importance of a Strong Finish
India’s head coach, Amol Muzumdar, echoed the sentiments of his captain, stressing the importance of finishing innings well. “Finishing is crucial in any game of cricket. We’ve seen how small margins can turn games around. If we had managed to score another 20 runs, perhaps the result would have been different,” Muzumdar said during the post-match press conference.
Despite the disappointment, the coach emphasized the team’s progress and the learning experiences they are gaining throughout the tournament. “It’s been a gradual process for us, and there are plenty of positives to take away. One key lesson we can learn is the importance of finishing strong, something we need to work on,” he added.
India Looks Ahead: A Possible Tweak in Strategy for England Match
India’s bowling strategy, which relies on five bowlers, has come under scrutiny in recent games. On batting-friendly tracks, the team has struggled to defend competitive totals, and they may consider adjusting their attack for upcoming matches. India’s next challenge comes against an unbeaten England side in Indore on October 19.
Muzumdar confirmed that the team would review their bowling combination before making any decisions. “We will sit down and discuss whether we need to tweak our strategy for the next match. It’s a conversation that we’ll have as a team,” he said.
However, Harmanpreet Kaur expressed confidence in the current combination, suggesting that the team could continue with the same approach. “This combination has worked well for us in the past, and two bad games aren’t going to change our overall approach. We’ll take stock of the situation and try to come up with the best plan moving forward,” Kaur explained.
India’s Standing and Future Plans
Despite back-to-back losses, India remains in a solid position on the points table, sitting third with four points from four matches. With a key match against England on the horizon, the team is focused on regrouping and executing their plans more effectively.
As India prepares for their next match in Indore, where high-scoring games are expected, the team will be looking to address their areas of concern while continuing to build on the strengths that have brought them success in previous encounters.
