Following India’s narrow nine-run defeat to Australia in their final group stage match of the Women’s T20 World Cup, captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her disappointment while highlighting the crucial differences between the two teams. Chasing a target of 152 runs, India ended their innings at 142/9 despite a resilient unbeaten half-century from Harmanpreet, who scored 54 runs. Australia’s bowlers, Annabel Sutherland and Sophie Molineux, were instrumental in the victory, each claiming two wickets.
Australia set a challenging total of 151/8, with Grace Harris contributing 40 runs and Ellyse Perry adding 32. On the Indian side, Renuka Singh and Deepti Sharma both claimed two wickets.
In her post-match analysis, Harmanpreet pointed out the collective strength of the Australian team. “Their entire lineup contributes consistently, while we depend on key players. They have multiple all-rounders who play vital roles,” she remarked. She also emphasized the importance of adaptability, noting that injuries or absences should not compromise the team’s readiness.
Reflecting on the chase, she stated, “It was a chaseable total. During my partnership with Deepti, we missed opportunities to capitalize on loose balls.” Harmanpreet recognized the lessons to be learned from Australia’s approach, admitting that the team’s shot selection ultimately contributed to their downfall.
In a tense final over, India required 14 runs. Harmanpreet initially took a single, but Sutherland quickly turned the tide by dismissing Pooja Vastrakar and Arundhati Reddy in consecutive deliveries. With the pressure mounting, India’s chances dwindled as Shreyanka Patil was run out, and Sutherland claimed another wicket. The match concluded with Renuka taking a single, sealing Australia’s victory.
As India awaits the outcome of the match between Pakistan and New Zealand, Harmanpreet concluded, “While we tried to control what we could, the final qualification is beyond our reach. If we get another opportunity, it would be wonderful; otherwise, the deserving team will advance.”
