India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur expressed confidence in her team's preparations for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup, slated to be held in UAE from October 3 to October 20.
In 2020, India made it to the final but lost to Meg Lanning’s Australia by 85 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Last time around in 2023, the Women in Blue made their way through to the semis, but lost to the Aussies by five runs in Cape Town.
While the Indian women’s team players have not played competitive cricket since July this year, they recently underwent an extended preparatory camp at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.
“This is the best team we are going forward with. The players have been playing together for a long time. For us we came so close last time and lost in semis (2023).
“We have ticked all the boxes in terms of preparation compared to the small things were not there maybe in earlier editions,” said Harmanpreet at the pre-departure press conference in Mumbai.
Australia and England have proved to be India’s nemesis in ICC tournaments for the last seven years. India are slotted in Group A along with Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka at the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.
“We can beat any team and Australia know that very well. They know if there is one team that can beat them it is us,” said Harmanpreet. “During the Asia Cup, we played good cricket, one odd day things did not go to plan.”
Harmanpreet Kaur has participated in many global events in a career spanning close to decade and half, but still gets excited with the prospect of playing in the World championship.
"I know I have played so many World Cups but I have the same excitement as I had when I was 19,” the 35-year-old said.
The media conference was also attended by head coach Amol Muzumdar and chief selector Neetu David.
Muzumdar opened up about the team’s focus areas during the training camp in Bengaluru.
“We did identify a few things (after the loss to Sri Lanka) and we went about in the subsequent camp. We first had a fitness and fielding camp. Then we had a 10 day skills only camp. We brought in a sports psychologist also (Mughda Bawre). She has been fantastic with the group.
“We focused on enhancing athletic ability, all-round fielding abilities, there were yoga sessions and psychological sessions were added.”
On lack of game time, Muzumdar said: “We are prepared for everything. In the skills camp, we had nets and five games in 10 days time. We have ticked all the boxes as far as preparation is concerned.”
He also put his faith on the batting line-up even though it doesn’t have the firepower possessed by the likes of Australia and England.
“Our top six are the best. Their styles and mannerisms are different. Number three, we have identified but we will reveal that when eleven is announced. In T20s, number three sets game the up, in any form actually."
“As far as the conditions are concerned, it will be similar to India. Start of the season they could be extra bounce especially in Dubai but climate will be just like India," he remarked.
India will begin their campaign against New Zealand on October 4, while the arch-rivals Pakistan clash is scheduled for October 6.
Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, Dayalan Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Sajana Sajeevan
Traveling reserves: Uma Chetry (wk), Tanuja Kanwer, Saima Thakor
Non-Travelling Reserves: Raghvi Bist, Priya Mishra.
(With PTI Inputs)
