Indian T20I skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has defended the team management’s decision to drop veteran Mithali Raj in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup semifinal match against England. The sloppy Women-in-Blue crashed out of the tournament following an eight-wicket defeat on Friday. The match was played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua.
Speaking after the heartbreaking 8-wicket semi-final loss to England, Harmanpreet Kaur maintained that she had “no regrets” about her decision.
“Whatever we decided, we decided for the team. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, no regrets,” Harmanpreet said at the post-match presentation, adding, “I’m proud of the way my girls played through the tournament. This is a learning for us because we are a young team.”
No room in India’s XI for a fit again Mithali Raj 👀 #WT20 pic.twitter.com/EDJWmX68nl
— ICC World Twenty20 (@WorldT20) November 22, 2018
The England duo of Natalie Sciver (54 not out) and Amy Ellen Jones (51 not out) brought English team back into the game after two early losses and later denied India any chance to come back into the game by displaying a great technique on a pitch that wasn’t easy to bat.
Harmanpreet Kaur also heaped praises on ICC World Number two team, England. “Sometimes you have to change your game according to the wicket. England bowled really well, read the wicket really well.”
“It was not an easy total to chase, and our bowlers bowled really well. We stretched the match till the 18th over.” Kaur added.
The Indian skipper also maintained that this World T20 was another learning curve for her young team. “I think we are a young team and we still need to work on our mental strength. If we can work on how to play under pressure, that will change how we play these games,” Harmanpreet Kaur concluded.