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'We Know This Group Is...' Harmanpreet Kaur Reflects On India's World Cup Opener Defeat vs NZ

Harmanpreet Kaur optimistic after New Zealand setback [Source: @OneCricketApp/x.com]Harmanpreet Kaur optimistic after New Zealand setback [Source: @OneCricketApp/x.com]

A visibly disappointed Indian skipper, Harmanpreet Kaur, admitted that her team failed to put their best foot forward during the Women’s T20 World Cup opener, as India slumped to a 58-run defeat against New Zealand. Chasing a target of 161, India was bowled out for a paltry 102, with no batter crossing the 20-run mark. However, Kaur remained upbeat, expressing her faith in the team's ability to bounce back.

Harmanpreet Kaur Holds Her Ground Despite Defeat

In a post-match presentation that felt like pulling teeth, Harmanpreet Kaur candidly acknowledged that her side failed to play up to their potential.

"We didn’t play our best cricket. Going forward, we know every game is important,” she remarked, indicating that India will need to pick themselves up by the bootstraps ahead of their next fixture.

While some might argue that chasing 161 on a slow pitch was a tall order, Kaur dismissed that notion, asserting that her team had handled similar targets before.

“We have chased many times 160-170. We were expecting that on the board. While batting, we knew someone had to bat through, but we kept losing wickets," Kaur said, highlighting the need for one player to anchor the innings.


Confidence in Team’s Potential

Though the loss was a bitter pill to swallow, Kaur's belief in her team hasn’t shaked. Looking ahead to their clash against arch-rivals Pakistan, Kaur exuded quiet confidence.

“We know this group is capable of better. This wasn’t the start we were expecting, but we have to go from here,” she stated, hinting that her team could rise from the ashes.

Missed Opportunities in the Field

Kaur didn’t shy away from pointing out her team’s fielding errors that contributed to the heavy defeat.

“We created chances but were not able to avail those chances,” she said, implicitly referring to the misfield by Renuka Thakur and wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh’s blunder during the Powerplay. 

“They played better cricket than us, no doubt about that. Fielding—we made some mistakes, so that is a learning for us going forward."

The Road Ahead

Despite the bruising loss in their Women's T20 World Cup 2024 opener, Kaur is determined to steer her team back on track, knowing that the World Cup is far from over. As India prepares to face Pakistan, the stakes are high, but so is Kaur’s confidence in her side’s ability to deliver. 

With better execution and fewer mistakes, the Indian skipper believes her team can turn the tide. India's fortunes may have hit a rough patch, but if Kaur's words are anything to go by, the team is ready to fight fire with fire.