‘Harmanpreet & Co. underwent 10-day fielding and health camp’

The Indian women’s cricket team was handed a rude shock, maybe a reality check when they were beaten by Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final in July. Despite batting well, and setting a target of 166, the Chamari Athapaththu-led team went on to win rather comprehensively. The skipper led from the front and scored 61, while little known Harshitha Samarawickrama scored a brisk 69 to take the team home.

That might have caused panic in the Indian camp. Just before the departure for the Women’s T20 World Cup, head coach Amol Muzumdar made it clear that he had identified a few areas that needed work. He said, “We did identify a few things and we went about it in the subsequent camps which followed the Asia Cup.

“We had a fitness camp which happened at the NCA. Fitness and fielding camp, they were specifically done for those two areas. Where the skills weren’t touched but we had a 10-day skill-camp where we focused on the skills and also played matches. We identified certain things and we tried to deliver that.”

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On the other hand, despite the slight setback, veteran skipper Harmanpreet Kaur made it clear that Team India was in the running to lift the cup. “It is our team’s dream to win this coveted trophy, and I feel, as a team, we have what it takes to lift the trophy,” she told reporters.

“We made it to the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup final in Australia and came tantalisingly close to reaching the final in the previous edition in South Africa in 2023. It makes it clear that the team has the pedigree and what it takes to shine on the biggest stage,” she added.