As the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 approaches, Team India has received a stark reminder of the challenges they will face. In a warm-up match held on September 29 in the UAE, the Indian team, led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, managed to secure a 20-run victory over the West Indies. However, the game exposed some critical weaknesses in the batting lineup, raising concerns even before the official tournament kicks off on October 3.
Batting Struggles: A Rocky Start
Playing at the ICC Academy ground, Team India was set to bat first, with high expectations placed on their top-order batsmen such as Smriti Mandhana and Shefali Verma. Unfortunately, the team’s batting performance fell short of these expectations. The West Indies’ opening bowlers made quick work of the Indian lineup, with the first three batsmen departing for just 21 runs within 5.2 overs. Shefali Verma was dismissed for a mere 7 runs by medium pacer Shinel Henry, while Smriti Mandhana (14) and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (1) fell victim to Windies captain Hayley Mathews, who concluded her spell with an impressive four wickets.
In a familiar turn of events, it was Jemimah Rodrigues who emerged as the backbone of the innings once again. Scoring a composed 52 runs off 40 balls, including five boundaries, she steadied the ship after the initial collapse. Yastika Bhatia also contributed a valuable 24 runs, forming a critical partnership of 50 runs for the fourth wicket. Unfortunately, Jemimah’s innings came to a premature end when she was run out in the 18th over, leaving India with a total of 141 runs after losing 8 wickets, failing to reach the 150-run mark. Deepti Sharma’s late contribution of an unbeaten 13 runs off 8 balls added some respectability to the score, but the batting unit’s struggle was evident as Richa Ghosh managed only 7 runs.
Bowlers Rescue the Day
With the batting unit underperforming, the responsibility shifted substantially to the bowlers, and they delivered a stellar performance. The medium pace duo of Renuka Singh and Pooja Vastrakar set the tone with exceptional spells. Renuka bowled brilliantly on her way to figures of 1 wicket for just 15 runs, claiming the vital wicket of West Indies captain Hayley Mathews who fell for a duck. Vastrakar was even more impressive, claiming three wickets for 20 runs, including two crucial dismissals that left the West Indies in a precarious position at the start of their innings.
Despite a notable fightback led by Shinel Henry, who scored a commendable 59 runs off 48 balls, the Indian bowlers were relentless. Spinner Asha Shobhana played a pivotal role in breaking key partnerships, and Deepti Sharma’s economical 2 for 11 helped tighten the noose around the West Indies batting lineup. Ultimately, the West Indies managed to post only 121 runs, falling short by 20 runs, highlighting the stark contrast between the two sides’ bowling performances.
This warm-up match serves as an important learning opportunity for Team India as they head into the T20 World Cup. With the batting lineup needing to regain form and confidence, the coaching staff will be aiming to address these issues quickly to ensure they are in prime condition for the forthcoming matches. Both fans and critics will closely watch how the team adapts and improves before they embark on their World Cup journey.
