Indian Women’s Cricket Team has once again missed out on a great opportunity to win a major ICC event despite having at the great position in the tournament, as the eves were knocked out of the ICC Women's World T20 after being thrashed by England in the semi-final on Thursday (November 22).
After failing to win ICC Women's World Cup last year in England, Indian Women’s were looking to win the World T20 title this time around and won all league matches, but their calculations and team combination didn’t fit in the semi-final against England.
Their major mistake was leaving experienced batswomen Mithali Raj out for the crucial encounter and then failing to execute their plans and dropping catches, which led them to face a heartbreaking 8-wicket defeat at the hand of England in the semi-final at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium at North Sound.
Meanwhile, Cricket pundits and fans are more surprised with Mithali’s omission than the defeat and questioned the logic behind leaving such an experienced player out for the mega encounter on Twitter.
However, India T20 captain Harmanpreet Kaur defended the decision, saying she has "no regrets" as the decision was taken keeping team's interests in mind.
She told media at the post-match press conference on Thursday, “Whatever we decided, we decided for the team. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, no regrets. I'm proud of the way my girls played through the tournament.”
Check out here how fans and cricket experts reacted to the defeat and Mithali’s exclusion on Twitter:
I've been saying for a while the Mithali Raj should be batting in the middle order in T20Is for India, not opening. Ramesh Powar has gone a step further today, leaving her out altogether, and continuing to be bold.
— Snehal Pradhan (@SnehalPradhan) November 22, 2018
What a statement. #WT20
Can understand, if you have to, that you leave out Mithali in a 180 game. But on a tough pitch? Then you play your best players and she is that. https://t.co/n3bbSodiC6
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 23, 2018
India paid the price for two mistakes. One in planning, by dropping Mithali on this pitch. The other in execution, by rushing down the pitch to muscle the ball in front of the pitch on a very slow pitch.#ICCWWT20
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) November 23, 2018
Sad end to a well fought tournament. Well played girls. Today might not have been our day. Unfortunately didn’t get enough runs. Missed @M_Raj03 in the team. Why wasn’t she playing?#INDvENG #ICCWWT20
— Saiyami Kher (@SaiyamiKher) November 23, 2018
Experience is needed in the shorter format of the game! Be it MS DHONI in Men's Team Or Mithali Raj in Women's Team, Good form or bad form, experience counts. #MithaliRaj #INDvENG
— Dev (@ParokaDev) November 23, 2018
If you don't pick your best player in semifinals you deserve to lose. Even Captain doesn't want to regret On Mithali Raj not featuring in this Game.We played well throughout the tournament. But missing Stumping nd catches in this make England to swung the Game Around. #INDvENG
— Abhishek Chauhan (@abhiraj0014) November 23, 2018
What led to the thinking that you need to drop the best player of the side to retain the winning combination in a very important semifinals? If @M_Raj03 is fit, she should make it to the squad. No matter what's the format. #iccwwt20 @BCCIWomen
— Bapi Banerjee (@banerjee_bapi) November 23, 2018
Cannot believe how Mithali Raj was dropped. Losing out such experience wasnt a good decision.
— Ojas Arankalle (@aojas123) November 23, 2018