Lack of middle-order runs a concern run for Indian women’s cricket, says former cricketers

Fourteen years back, Indian women’s cricket was on the cusp of history in South Africa – Johanessburg to be precise – the national team went down tamely to Australia in their maiden ODI World Cup appearance. Fast-forward to March 8, 2020 – the Indian eves scripted more or less the same script on their maiden T20 World Cup appearance in Australia – Melbourne to be precise. Call it nerves, call it lack of planning, call it anything, the national women’s team once again faltered at the doorstep of glory.

Without taking anything away from the Indian eves, they didn't lose any game in the league phase, maintaining an all-win record en route to the final clash against Australia. The hosts turned the summit clash into a no-contest with their opening belligerence of Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney – an onslaught that seemed to knock the stuffing out of the Indians. Chasing the highest-ever score in a T20 World Cup final, was not easy going to be easy but before the Indian openers strode out for the chase, they appeared already battered and bruised by the 180-plus score put by the Aussies.

The hosts turned the summit clash into a no-contest with their opening belligerence of Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney (Image: T20 World Cup)

Former spin bowling mainstay Nooshin Al Khadeer felt that the team cut a disappointing figure in the final. “Indian eves had played competitively in the league phase, but it was saddening to see the way we played in the final. There was lack of intent among the Indians and the way our batswomen crushed under sustained Aussie pressure is disappointing.”

The former Indian off-spinner, who featured in 78 ODIs for India, believes that the middle-order has and remains a concern area for India. “This team banks heavily on a big knock from Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur and that is not going to happen in each match. Our middle-order needs to shoulder more responsiblity - there was no intent in the batting of Deepti Sharma and Veda Krishnamurthy when they still had 13-14 overs to negotiate.”

Khadeer, who is India’s third highest wicket-taker in ODIs with 100 scalps from 78 ODIs (only behind Neetu David’s 141 scalps and Jhulan Goswami’s 225 scalps), has words of comfort for out-of-form Harmanpreet. “Her captaincy has been outstanding in the T20 World Cup but it is unfortunate that she endured a low run with the bat. Every team likes to go in with six batters and five bowlers but as far as India is concerned, we tend to depend on one or two batters.”

Shanta stopped short of being severe on skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who hardly made any noise with the willow in Australia. (Image: NDTV)

Khadeer said the team can be happy with the positives from the T20 World Cup. “Shafali Verma announced her arrival on the big stage with her fearless batting – she is so fearless – the likes of youngsters Richa Ghosh and Jemmimah Rodriguess are a good augury for the future.”

Indian women’s cricket first international captain Shanta Rangaswamy shared her perspective. “Australia really took the game away from India in the first ten overs. The way Healy pulverised the bowling and Mooney dropped anchor at one end put them in the drivers’ seat. Australia out-batted, out-bowled and out-fielded us and were the deserving winners,” said Indian women’s cricket first international captain Shanta Rangaswamy.

The 66-year-old former Indian top-order batswoman said there was very little write home about the batting department save for the exploits of Shafali Verma. “Shafali fired in all four league matches and the likes of Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma and Veda Krishnamurthy who all have considerable international experience behind them, failed to score big when it mattered. Save for Shafali’s batting exploits and the efforts of our five bowlers – Poonam , Radha, Shikha, Deepti and Rajeshwari, the entire batting department was disappointing.”

Shanta stopped short of being severe on skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who hardly made any noise with the willow in Australia. “Harmanpreet is India’s best bet in T20 but I’m not sure the pressure of captaincy is taking a toll on her. To be honest, India needs Harmanpreet the batswoman more than Harmanpreet the captain in the T20 format. Captaincy is something she has to take a call on,” she opined.

Also read: Dear Shafali: An open letter to India’s new star of its bittersweet World Cup