Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 | Poor fieilding, low strike-rates behind India women’s regular knock out defeats at global events
The Hindu
Since the 2017 final loss against England, India's defeats in knock-outs have come in the 2018 T20 World Cup semifinals (England again), the previous T20 World Cup final at the MCG and Commonwealth Games gold medal match last year
The edgy mind is fighting its own demons and reaching the coveted destination even before the journey is complete. It happened in London, Melbourne, Birmingham and now Cape Town.
The old adage "there's many a slip between cup and the lip" fits the Indian women's team to the 'T'.
After another emotionally exhausting semi-final defeat, what seems to be more disconcerting is that it is no longer a singular slip but multiple slip-ups. It indicates a distinct pattern of not being able to hold one's nerve during key moments.
The final appearance at the 2017 ODI World Cup revolutionised women's cricket in India. The national side was expected to build on that result and challenge the hegemony of Australia but six years later, it continues to wait for an elusive world title.
India found themselves in familiar territory in the T20 World Cup semifinal against Australia on Thursday. They were on course for a famous win but following a bizarre run out of skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, they imploded and the result was another heartbreaking loss.
Since the 2017 final loss against England, India's defeats in knock-outs have come in the 2018 T20 World Cup semifinals (England again), the previous T20 World Cup final at the MCG and Commonwealth Games gold medal match last year (both against Australia).
Factoring in the inconsistent cricket played by India in the league stage, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side did well to push the Aussies to the limit.