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Cricket

Can the women's T20 team break the jinx of India faltering in knockouts?

Can the womens T20 team break the jinx of India faltering in knockouts?
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By

Sarah Waris

Published: 11 Feb 2020 10:14 AM GMT

The Indian cricket teams have emerged as a dominant force in the sporting world since the start of the century. By decimating rivals and unearthing temperamentally strong leaders and icons, the colts, men and the women players have time and again pitched in with inspired showings to stamp their authority in the cricketing realm.

With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) focusing on providing world-class facilities along with resources to the cricketers, the sport has reached the zenith in the recent past. The women's cricket team, despite not grabbing headlines frequently, made the world sit up and take note of the stars at their disposal after a fine 2017 World Cup, where they fought tooth and nail to reach the finals only to end up an agonizing nine runs short of the title.

Under-19 side and the Women's cricket squad from the nation have emerged as world-beaters (Image: ICC/Getty)

As things stand currently, the Men's Senior team, the Under-19 side and the Women's cricket squad from the nation have emerged as world-beaters, constantly faring well not only at home but away as well. However, the lack of any major International Cricket Council (ICC) trophies in the last decade has been a matter of much contention. While the squads fare well in Asia Cups and bilateral series', the inability to cross the final hurdle in pressure games has not been ignored by the cricket fanatics in India.

From 2007 to 2013, India brought home the maiden T20 Men's World Cup (2007), the 50-over World Cup (2011), the Under-19 World Cup (2008) and the Champions Trophy (2013). However, since then, India have entered the knockouts in ICC events (across genders and age-groups) ten times, including reaching the finals five times, with the women's side also faltering in the semis of the T20 World Cup in West Indies in 2018. They have managed to win just one of the ten events - the Under-19 World Cup that the Prithvi Shaw-led side clinched in 2018.

The Indian cricket team faltering in ICC events since 2014

  • 2014, T20 Men's World Cup in Sri Lanka - Lost in finals
  • 2015, Men's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand - Lost in semi-finals
  • 2016, T20 Men's World Cup in India - Lost in semi-finals
  • 2016, U19 Men's World Cup in Bangladesh - Lost in finals
  • 2017, Men's Champions Trophy in England - Lost in finals
  • 2017, Women's World Cup in England - Lost in finals
  • 2018, U19 Men's World Cup in New Zealand - Won
  • 2018, Women's T20 World Cup in West Indies - Lost in semi-finals
  • 2019, Men's World Cup in England - Lost in semi-finals
  • 2020, U19 Men's World Cup in South Africa - Lost in finals

Harmanpreet Kaur (Image: ICC/Getty Images)

Will the women's team be able to reverse the trend in Australia

The upcoming women's T20 World Cup in Australia from February 21, thus presents the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Women in Blue to break the jinx and return with the coveted title, which will also be the first ICC event to be won by the women's cricket team from India.

The Women in Blue are currently participating in a short T20I series, also featuring Australia and England, before the start of the event Down Under, to acclimatize themselves to the conditions that will be on offer during the edition. After a strong display in the group stages, Kaur and Co. have managed to enter the finals where they will take on the hosts on Wednesday.

With a solid top-order and a threatening spin attack, India will enter the World T20 Cup as favourites, but whether they can manage to hold on to their nerves in crunch situations at the big stage will be the question.

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