Under Harmanpreet Kaur, India failed to go past the group stage for the second successive T20 World Cup
Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Netherlands, Bangladesh. These are the only oppositions India have beaten in the last two editions of the Women's T20 World Cup. For a side that has seen its players reach giddying heights, especially since the emergence of the WPL in 2023, they have become less than the sum of the parts.
It is two T20 World Cups in a row that India — now a powerhouse in the women's game too — have failed to make it to the knockouts under Harmanpreet Kaur. Such is the nature of the T20 game that losing even one match can push you into must-win territory.
That's exactly where India were when they faced Australia at the end of the league stage in the last two T20 World Cups, and failed to get over the line on both occasions.
"If I have to think about the entire tournament, I think we didn't play well against good teams," Harmanpreet said after the loss to Australia. "Sometimes we were in the game but in the last few overs we gave away easy runs. Now we have to reset and rethink because next couple of months some good tournaments are coming up."
The shuffling of Jemimah Rodrigues and Yastika Bhatia between Nos. 3 and 5 reflected a lack of role clarity. India also hardly looked sure about their pace combination as no fast bowler was given more than two games in a row.
Harmanpreet's age — 37 — and her captaincy record in the last two T20 World Cups pose the obvious question: is she the right candidate to lead the side in the next T20 World Cup? Thanks to the WPL, the selectors also have a candidate in Smriti Mandhana, who has lifted the trophy twice in four years as the RCB captain.
This doesn't mean India don't need Harmanpreet the batter. It was only because of her that India reached 170 against Australia on Sunday. The past is set in stone. It is now upon the selectors to shape the future.
Tags: Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, India Women, ICC Women's T20 World Cup