Harmanpreet Kaur Confident in India’s Squad

Harmanpreet Kaur is feeling optimistic about India’s prospects in the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, expressing confidence in the team's experience and depth. Among the 15-member squad, 12 players have already competed in previous editions of the tournament, with only Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, and S Sajana making their World Cup debuts after impressive performances in the Women's Premier League.

Speaking at a pre-departure press conference in Mumbai, Harmanpreet pointed out the team’s collective experience. “We have several players who have been part of the team for a long time and understand their roles well,” she said. “I believe this is the best team we’ve had for a T20 World Cup.”

Harmanpreet praised key players, highlighting Pooja Vastrakar’s strong form and Renuka Singh’s knack for providing crucial breakthroughs. She also mentioned Arundhati Reddy's versatility, being able to contribute with both the ball and bat. Although she refrained from comparing India's bowling attack to other teams, she stated that she is confident in her squad’s capabilities and potential.

India’s preparation for the World Cup included T20I series against top teams like Australia, England, South Africa, and Bangladesh, along with participation in the Asia Cup. While India narrowly lost the series to Australia and England, they dominated Bangladesh 5-0 and split the series 1-1 against South Africa after a rain-affected match. The biggest upset came in the Asia Cup final, where Sri Lanka defeated India to claim their first title.

Reflecting on the Asia Cup, Harmanpreet mentioned that India had played well throughout the tournament, and the final was an exception where things didn’t go as planned. “We discussed our shortcomings and focused on how to improve in similar situations going forward,” she said.

Since the Asia Cup in July, the Indian team has undergone fitness and skills camps. Some players also participated in international leagues like the Hundred and the Women's Caribbean Premier League. Head coach Amol Muzumdar noted that the team had been working on specific areas in these camps, particularly fitness and fielding. Despite a lack of competitive matches, he assured that the team has had adequate game time through internal practice games.

India has consistently reached the latter stages of the T20 World Cup, finishing as runners-up in 2020 and reaching the semi-finals in both 2018 and 2023. They also narrowly missed out on a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

In an effort to improve their handling of pressure, the team has been working with sports psychologist Mugdha Bavare. Harmanpreet shared that these sessions have helped players address mental fatigue and improve their mindset. “When you speak with a psychologist, you can focus on personal and team-related issues. These sessions have helped us grow closer and perform better on the field,” she added.

With the upcoming T20 World Cup, India aims to capitalise on their experience, strengthen team cohesion, and deliver strong performances under pressure.