Cricket

India's head coach, Amol Muzumdar, expressed disappointment after their semi-final hopes were dashed by a nine-run loss to Australia. However, he praised his team's effort and urged them to learn from the experience.India's fielding was subpar, conceding "10-15 more" runs than necessary. They dropped three catches, missed a stumping, and a run-out opportunity. A crucial lbw call against Phoebe Litchfield also went in Australia's favor.Muzumdar acknowledged the importance of the Litchfield decision, saying it was "a crucial one." He also revealed that India's strategy during their chase was to keep the net run rate in check and take the game deeper.Despite the loss, Muzumdar emphasized that India's preparation had been thorough. They had two dedicated camps, one for fitness and fielding and another for skill development. He also praised captain Harmanpreet Kaur for her resilience, despite battling physical discomfort.Muzumdar expressed confidence in his team and their ability to bounce back. He said, "I couldn't have asked for more from my support staff and I couldn't have asked for more from the players. They gave their best in those camps. Preparation about this World Cup was thorough."India's build-up to the game had been smooth, with Pooja Vastrakar returning to the XI after recovering from a hamstring niggle. Muzumdar explained that Vastrakar's inclusion was a no-brainer, given her impressive record as one of the team's best bowlers.

India's women's cricket team is gearing up for their one-off Test against South Africa, buoyed by recent white-ball series victories. However, head coach Amol Muzumdar believes there's room for improvement in all departments."We have the momentum, but we're trying to focus on each game as it comes," Muzumdar said. "The demands of Test cricket are different, but the team is up for it."India last played a Test in December, beating Australia in Mumbai. They also won a one-off Test against England at home. Most of the top players also participated in the Senior Women's Inter-Zonal Multi-day Trophy in March-April.Despite having only five days to prepare for the Test, Muzumdar is confident that the players are ready for the challenge. "We're aware that red-ball cricket will be a part of women's cricket going forward," he said. "The inter-zonal tournament was critical in sending that message."The core of the team will remain the same, but Shubha Satheesh, Sneh Rana, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, and Meghna Singh will be coming in for the Test. "They're very important players," Muzumdar said. "They've had a specific workload in the camp and are raring to go."Muzumdar also expressed support for a women's World Test Championship, similar to the men's format. "It's not a bad idea," he said. "Test cricket is always special, and every game is important."The team has also included 17-year-old uncapped medium pacer Shabnam Shakil. "She's a superb talent," Muzumdar said. "We're including her so she gets a feel of the team culture and atmosphere."