Women T20 World Cup 2024: The 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup brought heartbreak for Indian cricket fans as the Women in Blue were eliminated from the tournament after failing to make it past the group stage.
India’s exit was sealed when New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 54 runs, securing their place in the semifinals and ending India’s slim hopes of progressing. Despite the high expectations, India struggled to find form throughout the tournament, and their early elimination raised questions about preparation, strategy, and execution.
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Missed Opportunities and Tactical Missteps
India entered the tournament with hopes of progressing deep into the competition, especially with star players like Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Shafali Verma in the squad. Placed in a challenging group with defending champions Australia and two time finalists New Zealand, India was expected to win the matches against lower-ranked teams and at least put up a strong fight against the heavyweights. However, that didn’t happen.
Their campaign began on a shaky note with a crucial loss to New Zealand in the opener, which ultimately cost them a spot in the semifinals. The defeat left India reliant on other results to advance, a risky position that ultimately led to their elimination when Pakistan failed to overcome New Zealand.
Women T20 World Cup 2024: India’s Shocking Exit from the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 – What Went Wrong?
Batting Struggles Under Pressure
India’s batting lineup, touted as one of their strongest assets, turned out to be their Achilles’ heel. Senior players like Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma struggled to provide the stability and consistency needed at the top. Harmanpreet Kaur, the skipper, did manage to score a half-century against Australia, but her inability to finish the game when it mattered was a crucial blow to the team’s chances.
The team’s inability to chase down or set competitive totals in critical matches, coupled with frequent batting collapses, painted a grim picture. In a critical match against Australia, Mandhana’s absence and Shafali’s continued struggles with poor shot selection put India in a difficult position, leading to a defeat that further dented their semifinal hopes.
Women T20 World Cup 2024: India’s Shocking Exit from the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 – What Went Wrong?
Fielding Woes and Fitness Issues
Apart from batting woes, India’s fielding was a letdown. The Women in Blue were marred by misfields, dropped catches, and poor running between the wickets – mistakes that proved costly. In the tight margins of T20 cricket, these fielding errors gave their opponents the edge. The lack of fitness was also evident, as players like Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh lost crucial wickets while running between the stumps.
Lack of Preparation and Inconsistent Team Strategy
One of the most glaring issues was India’s lack of preparation heading into the World Cup. The team did not play any competitive T20 series to fine-tune their lineup before the tournament. As a result, they struggled to settle on a consistent batting order. For example, Harmanpreet Kaur batted at No. 3 in the first two matches before Jemimah Rodrigues was moved up to that position in later games. This unstable shuffling disrupted the team’s momentum, and the decision failed to pay off.
Women T20 World Cup 2024: India’s Shocking Exit from the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 – What Went Wrong?
New Zealand’s Win Seals India’s Fate
India’s fate was not entirely in their own hands, and they had to rely on Pakistan defeating New Zealand in the final group match. Pakistan did well to restrict New Zealand to a modest 110/6, but their batting completely collapsed, getting bowled out for just 56 runs in 11.4 overs. New Zealand’s bowlers, especially Lea Tahuhu and Eden Carson, opened the floodgates, leaving Pakistan with no chance to chase the target in the required 12 overs. This ensured that New Zealand advanced to the semifinals along with Australia, ending India’s hopes.
India’s elimination from the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 is undoubtedly disappointing, but it also serves as a wake-up call for the team. The need for better preparation, more strategic planning, and sharper execution in big tournaments is now more apparent than ever. With key events on the horizon, including the Women’s ODI series against New Zealand, the Women in Blue will have to regroup, analyze their shortcomings, and come back stronger.
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FAQs
Why was India eliminated from the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024?
India was eliminated after New Zealand secured a spot in the semifinals by defeating Pakistan, leaving India unable to qualify
