With hardly any time left for Asian Games 2023, former India Women’s captain Anjum Chopra has advised the incoming coach to focus on T20 World Cup 2024 instead. BCCI and the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) have finalised on the candidate. However, an official announcement is yet to be made. The cricketer-turned-commentator felt it would have ideal if Harmanpreet Kaur & Co had a coach before the Bangladesh series. However, the with the delay, it will be difficult for the new head coach to prepare the team for the Asian Games.
“If a coach would have been appointed before the Bangladesh series, it would have been ideal. Now, whoever the coach is, their first assignment will be the Asian Games. It is still a good thing, given the Asian Games is absolutely essential.
However, it is very important that the coach gets ample time to understand the team, the dynamics of the Women’s game. It is only cricket but there is a massive difference between international teams, the Indian team and the players in the domestic set-up,” Chopra said.
‘India contenders if not favourites for Asian Games’
While the Women in Blue are currently without a head coach, Chopra has still expressed her confidence and optimism about Indian women’s team’s chances in the upcoming Asian Games in China. Chopra said that the team is still a work in progress and there remain a lot of areas that need to be addressed. However, she believes that the team is capable of competing with the best in Asia and beyond.
“We are definitely contenders, if not favourites for the Asian Games. The team is still a work in progress and there remain a lot of areas that need to be addressed. These games are an opportunity to build towards 2024 (T20 WC),” Chopra said in an exclusive interview with InsideSport.
Notably, The Indian women’s team have got a direct qualification to the quarterfinals at the Asian Games based on their ICC T20I rankings.
While Team India is certainly top contenders to win a gold medal in Asian Games, there recent performances against Bangladesh will surely have rung an alarm among the team who are currently without a head coach.
The Women in Blue won the T20I series 2-1, while they drew the ODI series after a thrilling tie in 3rd ODI.
‘Progress far more important than milestones’
Cricket pundits and fans have expressed their frustrations in recent times of team faltering in pressure games. Indian senior women’s team are yet to win a silverware despite reaching agonisingly close in 2017 and 2020.
However, Chopra, who played 12 Tests, 127 ODIs and 18 T20Is for India between 1995 and 2012, also stressed on the importance of improving every day and not focusing too much on the outcomes of tournaments.
She said that the team has important events coming up with two World Cups in 2023 and 2024, but they should not lose sight of their progress and development.
“We have important events coming in with two World Cups. The team has to improve everyday irrespective of whether we win or don’t win the World Cup. Progress is far more important than reaching milestones. The trophies are just rewards on the way,” Chopra said.
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