The Indian women’s cricket team’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur in a recent press conference shows sheer confidence in her team. The captain is “quite confident” about the squad selected for the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup. With 12 out of the 15 players having prior World Cup experience, the team is a blend of seasoned campaigners and promising young talent. Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, and S Sajana are the only newcomers, but they impressed in Women’s Premier League (WPL) to earn their spots.
Speaking at the pre-departure press conference in Mumbai, Harmanpreet highlighted the strength of the squad. “We have a few players who have been playing for a long time and know their roles well,” she said. She praised Pooja Vastrakar and Renuka Singh for their contributions, especially Renuka’s ability to consistently provide breakthroughs with the ball. Harmanpreet expressed confidence in her team, emphasizing the balance in the bowling line-up and the players’ awareness of their capabilities.
“We sat and discussed how we wanted to work on our shortcomings”: Harmanpreet Kaur on Asia Cup Failure
India’s build-up to the World Cup has been a mix of highs and lows. While they lost close T20I series to Australia and England, they convincingly won 5-0 against Bangladesh and tied 1-1 with South Africa. However, the team faced a setback when they lost the Asia Cup final to Sri Lanka in July. Reflecting on the Asia Cup, Harmanpreet said, “We played really good cricket throughout the tournament, but one odd game didn’t go our way.” She added that the team has worked on improving their weaknesses in preparation for the World Cup.
Head coach Amol Muzumdar assured that despite limited recent game-time, the team is well-prepared, having gone through extensive fitness, fielding, and skills camps. Players also gained valuable experience in overseas leagues like The Hundred and the Women’s Caribbean Premier League. Muzumdar emphasized that the team played several competitive games during their camps to simulate match conditions, ticking the box for game readiness.
The Indian team has also focused on mental preparedness, with sports psychologist Mugdha Bavare helping players deal with pressure. Harmanpreet shared that the sessions have been beneficial, helping the team address mental fatigue and improve their collective mindset.
With the tournament set to take place in the UAE, Harmanpreet is ready to use her wealth of experience, playing in her ninth T20 World Cup. She remains excited and determined to enjoy her cricket and lead India to success, focusing on playing with freedom and confidence.
Also read: Mumbai Indians Women: most runs and Highest Wickets in WPL
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