Cricket

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has lauded captain Harmanpreet Kaur and the women's team for their valiant effort against Australia in their T20 World Cup 2024 match in Sharjah on Sunday. Despite a heartbreaking loss, Manjrekar praised the team's determination and Harmanpreet's leadership.The Indian women's team fell short by 14 runs in their pursuit of Australia's 150-run target, with Harmanpreet scoring an unbeaten 54 off 47 balls. Manjrekar believes that no other team could have come as close to the target on a challenging pitch."No other team other than India would have come so close to the big target Aus set on a difficult pitch. I say, well done India! And again what a star Harman is!" Manjrekar tweeted.However, fans expressed frustration with Manjrekar's comments, calling them an "excuse" for the team's failure to win. They argued that the team should be held accountable for their performance, regardless of the pitch conditions.Manjrekar defended his stance, stating that Harmanpreet's unbeaten knock showcased her caliber. "Harmanpreet Kaur showed in the end why she is so great. She almost won the match. The pitch was very tricky, the score was almost like chasing 250, and they reached so close. It's a matter of great pride for me," he said on Star Sports.He also praised the team's overall performance, highlighting their ability to score runs without Smriti Mandhana's contribution and their effective bowling."The Indian team touched new heights today. This was a very important match... the batters kept scoring without Mandhana's contribution, and the bowling was good," he added.Manjrekar believes that the team's performance against Australia is a testament to their progress and potential. "They set an excellent score on the tough pitch in Sharjah. They set 150 where the average score is around 115. India almost won this match. So they reached close to Mount Everest, they reached the third or fourth base," he explained.Despite the loss, Manjrekar remains optimistic about the team's future. He believes that they have the talent and determination to achieve success in the future.

Harmanpreet Kaur, the skipper of the Indian women's cricket team, exudes confidence in her team's ability to clinch their maiden global title at the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup. She believes that the playing conditions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the tournament has been relocated due to political instability in Bangladesh, could favor the Indian side.Despite the change in venue, Harmanpreet remains unfazed, stating that the conditions in the UAE are similar to those in India. "We have not played much cricket in the UAE, but the conditions are going to be similar to Indian conditions," she said. "We will see how the conditions play out and try to adjust ourselves as soon as possible."Harmanpreet emphasized the importance of a positive and assertive approach throughout the World Cup. "As a team, we learn from our defeats and break those barriers that are pushing us back. Hopefully, this time we can express ourselves in a more positive way in the World Cup," she said.She expressed confidence in the Indian bowling attack, despite their struggles in the recent Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka. "The bowlers are working really hard as a team and, hopefully, in this World Cup, we tick all the boxes," she said.Harmanpreet, who led Mumbai Indians to victory in the inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL), stressed the significance of staying focused on the present moment. "It is always important for us to play good cricket, keeping ourselves in the present. Whatever the situation is in front of us, we go there and evaluate it as soon as possible," she said.The Indian women's cricket team has consistently performed well in major tournaments, reaching the final of the 2020 T20 World Cup and the semifinals of the 2023 Women's T20 World Cup. Harmanpreet's leadership and the team's determination to break the final barrier and secure their first global title will be crucial in their quest for glory in the upcoming tournament.

Sneh Rana, the Indian women's cricket team's spin-bowling all-rounder, believes that the recent success of Rohit Sharma and his team in the T20 World Cup has instilled a renewed sense of self-assurance and determination within the women's squad. This newfound belief has fueled their ambition to secure their first-ever ICC trophy.The Women's Asia Cup, commencing in Sri Lanka on Friday, sees India once again as the top contenders to clinch the title. However, the real challenge for the team lies ahead in the T20 World Cup in October and the ODI World Cup, which they will host next year.Rana is confident that the Indian team, having come close to victory on several occasions, has put in immense effort to achieve success in a global tournament. She firmly believes that the elusive triumph is well within their reach."The Indian women's cricket team, if you look at the past 2-3 years, they are doing their best," Rana told PTI in an exclusive interview on Friday. "For (winning) the ICC trophy, let's take the men's (team's example), it took almost 10 years to get the trophy. They have been preparing and working hard for it for a long time.""To achieve something big, it will not happen overnight. It will take time. It will take a lot of sacrifices, a lot of struggle, a lot of things in between. But eventually, we will get there," Rana said.The players and coaches have recognized that fielding is a problematic area that needs improvement. However, according to Rana, the team is not lacking in determination to enhance their performance in this aspect of the game."When we play N number of matches, the chances of errors are more. But it doesn't mean that someone is bad at it. Obviously, as a player, when you are on the field, you want to always do your best for your country," she said."No one is there to say that it's okay, it will happen (ho jayega). (But) it could also be a matter of a bad day for someone.""As far as ICC trophies are concerned, for big events, the more matches we play, the more experience we will get," Rana said.Since her introduction to international cricket in 2014, Rana patiently waited for the opportunity to represent her country in the longest format of the game. After a prolonged period of seven years, she finally received her maiden Test cap. The right-arm off-spinner now reflects on her journey with pride, having featured in three more Test matches since her debut."I'm glad I got the opportunity. It had been a while, right? The scenario for Indian women's Test cricket is changing for good. The number of Tests we're getting to play now, it's the best opportunity for players.""The inclusion of a multi-day format in domestic cricket is also a big step from the BCCI to take this forward," Rana said.Since 2014, the team had not participated in any 'home' Tests for an extended period of nine years. However, since December 2023, they have emerged victorious in all three Tests they have played.Rana attributed the team's success to the players' exceptional fitness levels and remarkable endurance, which have been crucial factors in their recent triumphs."It's a matter of mindset. Obviously, you've been playing cricket for so long, the 50-overs and 20 overs. But the long formats that we used to have, the multi-days, that we played last in 2018," she said."You have to be on the field for four days, you need endurance for that. Fitness is very important and as a senior player, it's (even) more important because you have to be there all the time," said Rana, who took a 10-for against South Africa earlier this month in the Chennai Test."You have to guide your youngsters as well. It's a bit challenging. But lastly, it's all about the mindset," she said.The Women's Premier League has made the Indian players busier than before but its versatile nature will help in the longer run, Rana said."Since WPL came, we have become a bit more busy. I think the busier, the better. Cricket has got more exposure since WPL came. The match exposure is always good for a player.""The versatility that WPL brings on the table by sharing dressing rooms with the overseas players. (The) new-found talent of the country, (will bring) a refreshing change to women's cricket," she said.Rana's current focus is to regain her position in the white-ball squad, as she was not selected for the Asia Cup tournament. This presents a significant hurdle for her to overcome."I won't lie. It was a little heartbreaking to be dropped from the team. You want to play for India, be it Test cricket or white-ball cricket," she said."But at the same time, it has developed a hunger in me to rejoin the T20 format with my team or the 50-overs game. I'm eagerly waiting for the opportunity," she said."I know I have it in me and I have penned down my manifestation (too)," said Rana, who has played 25 T20Is and 27 ODIs.Rana expressed his approval of the extended tenure being given to the current head coach, Amol Muzumdar, compared to some of the coaches who came before him."Longevity and consistency in the side definitely helps, be it in the regards of coach or a player. With the amount of time one spends with the team, the knowledge about the player and the bonding within, that automatically increases," Rana said."He knows each and every player, their strengths... and how he can use that particular player in a match. At which moment, when and where he can use that player... he knows everything," Rana added.

The Indian women's cricket team celebrated a historic triumph at the NDTV Indian of the Year 2024 awards ceremony, receiving the prestigious "Sports Performance of the Year" award. The team's remarkable achievements have propelled women's cricket in India to new heights.Shreyanka Patil, Shafali Verma, Sneh Rana, and Radha Yadav represented the team at the ceremony, where they were honored by tennis legend Sania Mirza. Shreyanka expressed her gratitude for the recognition and highlighted the transformative journey of women's cricket in India."Women's cricket has undergone a profound change in recent years," Shreyanka said. "We are now receiving financial support and opportunities that were once unimaginable. The BCCI deserves immense credit for their unwavering commitment to our growth."Shreyanka's words resonated with the team's recent success in the Women's Premier League (WPL). As a member of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) side, she played a pivotal role in their historic title victory."Winning the WPL title was a dream come true," Shreyanka said. "It was the first time an RCB team had won a championship, and we are incredibly proud of our accomplishment."Shreyanka also extended her support to the RCB men's team, who are currently competing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. "We have been eagerly waiting for the men's team to lift the IPL trophy," she said. "We know they are working hard and determined to bring it home. We wish them all the best."The Indian women's cricket team's success is a testament to their talent, dedication, and the growing support for women's sports in India. Their achievements have inspired a new generation of young girls to pursue their dreams on the cricket field.