India’s former captain, Mithali Raj, has urged her staff to try for excellence in all three elements of the sport, following their disappointing 11-run defeat to England in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023. Raj expressed her concern over India’s lackluster batting and bowling, in addition to their inconsistent fielding, stating that the staff has solely carried out effectively in temporary durations. Although India managed to share the honors with England at St. George’s Park in Gqeberha, their pursuit of a spot in the knockouts was jeopardized by an absence of momentum in the ultimate overs of the match. Despite a valiant effort in the final over, the place they scored 19 runs, India’s general efficiency was not up to speed. With this loss, England now holds a 6-0 report in opposition to India in the event, and has secured the highest spot in Group 2. As a consequence, India has slipped to second place in the group, with two wins, one loss, and a complete of 4 factors.
A strong battle from #TeamIndia nevertheless it was England who received the match! #ENGvIND
India will look to bounce again in their subsequent #T20WorldCup recreation in opposition to Ireland. _ _
Scorecard _ https://t.co/EvGQ5Eom80 pic.twitter.com/yUXQEco4Zq
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) February 18, 2023
Raj, talking on the 100% Cricket Podcast, pinpointed the middle-over durations throughout each innings as the place India faulted. “The over that India lost Smriti Mandhana, that point was so crucial because she was building a partnership with Richa Ghosh,” stated Raj as quoted by ICC.
Until she was there, there have been hopes that India may find yourself profitable this recreation, nevertheless it was a tall ask from the lower-middle order of India to chase down the whole.
“England were expensive in the Powerplay, but when it came to the middle overs and the death overs, they were disciplined. They dried up the runs of the opposition and got those wickets in the last few overs. Sophie Ecclestone — the No.1 T20 bowler — she showed why she is the best in this format, getting Harmanpreet Kaur in her very first over,” added the legendary batter.
The defeat means England, barring a disastrous efficiency in opposition to Pakistan on Tuesday in Cape Town, will end prime of the group. As a consequence, India’s path to the event last takes an undesirable flip with a probable assembly with world No.1 and defending champions Australia on the semifinal stage.
Raj, in the commentary field for the event, stated her former teammates should sharpen up in each division if they’re to show over the favourites ought to they meet them.
“They have to put up the best performance in the semis. Because it is a knockout and you are up against the world’s best, you have to be very good in all three departments. So far, India has been very scratchy in the batting, and equally scratchy in the bowling. Fielding, in patches, they have done well,” stated Raj.
While put in some tough conditions, Australia’s collective high quality throughout the 15-player squad has meant they’ve cantered to 4 victories on the opposite aspect of the draw.
Tripping up at 40/3 from seven overs in opposition to South Africa hours after India’s defeat on the identical floor, Australia’s center order not solely steadied the ship with Ash Gardner (28 from 29 balls) however countered by way of Tahlia McGrath’s 57 (33), profitable in the seventeenth over.
For Raj, given the batting high quality throughout the Australian group, a goal requiring eight runs an over or extra is the one option to hold the stress on your complete staff.
“If you have to beat a side like Australia, you clearly have to put up a target, and nothing less than 160 on the board. The Indian team depend highly on the spinners, and so far it is only Deepti Sharma that’s delivering the goods,” stated Raj.
“When you have players like Renuka Thakur, Shikha Pandey, Deepti, you need support from the other bowlers even to defend a target that you put up. So India really has to put up an improved performance from what they have been doing in the league phase when they are up against Australia,” she added.
Apart from calling the motion, Raj has different motives on the event, given her function on board with the Gujarat Giants as a mentor for the inaugural Women’s Premier League, starting on March 4.
While lamenting the timing of the ground-breaking event being a little bit late for her as a participant, Raj is joyful to look at historical past unfold from the opposite aspect of the boundary.
“I am very happy to be watching the game from the sidelines, watching and commentating, so a very different perspective. I am sure with the WPL and the other leagues around the world, every other player from different countries gets to participate and gain more exposure with regards to this format, it is only going to help (the game),” stated the batter.
