This is India’s “best team ever” at a Women’s T20 World Cup, captain Harmanpreet Singh had asserted during the pre-departure news conference.
This unit certainly has the quality to reach the semi-finals of this edition of the tournament, beginning in the UAE on Thursday, but fumbling in the last-four stage of marquee events has haunted India of late. They even lost to Sri Lanka in the Women’s Asia Cup final in July.
However, judging the team solely based on their performance in a last-four clash or a final wouldn’t be fair, said distinguished former India quick Jhulan Goswami.
“This is cricket. Not academics, where you can solve a critical question in the examination by applying the formula. So, this (fumbling in the semi-final/final) happens,” Jhulan, currently the mentor of Mumbai Indians Women, told The Telegraph on Wednesday.
“Otherwise, the India men’s team wouldn’t have had to wait so long for an ICC trophy. No other team is as complete as India’s, yet they couldn’t win any world event after the 2011 ODI World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy (till the triumphant T20 World Cup campaign this year). The same goes for the women’s team.
“On that particular day, the team which can make the right decision at the right time will come out on top. That said, you don’t know when the right time is. So, the priority should always be to feature among the top four. Then you think of making the final and giving your absolute best in the decider,” Jhulan explained.
Harmanpreet and Co. begin their T20 World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Dubai on Friday. The scorching heat and humidity at this time of the year will also be a factor, Jhulan believes.
“In this period, in particular, it’s tough to play in Dubai because of the heatwave there. We were there to play the Women’s T20 Challenge (in November 2020) and could feel the intense humidity, which tends to drain players out while recovery also takes time,” she said.
Deepti’s role crucial
How Harmanpreet utilises the options at her disposal will be important for India, Jhulan pointed out, alongside stressing the importance of spinner all-rounder Deepti Sharma’s role.
One of India’s most consistent performers, Deepti has had a fine time in the Women’s Hundred, finishing with a batting average of 212 (dismissed just once in six innings) and eight wickets from eight appearances for champions London Spirit.
“In the last eight years, Deepti has been an India regular, so she has to take that responsibility now as a senior pro. She plays the role of a finisher while she can bowl her off-spin with the new ball, during middle overs and at the death, a quality not all players have,” Jhulan emphasised.