In the aftermath of India’s resounding loss to Australia in the third ODI, Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur acknowledged a critical concern that haunted the team throughout the series—fielding. Despite being a team that prides itself on being skillful, the India women’s cricket team found themselves grappling with fielding lapses that significantly impacted their performance.
The second ODI witnessed a flurry of dropped catches, contributing to India’s narrow loss to Australia. Unfortunately, the trend continued in the third game, where the visitors faced a comprehensive defeat, leading to Australia’s clean sweep of the ODI series. One of the prominent beneficiaries of India women’s cricket team fielding lapses was Phoebe Litchfield, who capitalized on being dropped by Deepti Sharma on 61 and went on to score an impactful 119. This set the stage for Australia’s commanding victory.
Jemimah Rodrigues, addressing the post-match press conference, candidly admitted that fielding was a major letdown for India in the series. However, she reassured fans that the team is committed to addressing this issue through hard work and dedication.
“I don’t think there’s any reason we can give, we need to accept what we’ve done. We’ve not played to our highest potential, especially in the fielding department there’s a lot of work we need to still continue (doing). We have been working on it but definitely not the standard expected for the Indian women’s cricket team. But I can assure you that we will work on it and come back stronger,” she stated.
India women’s cricket team to bounce back
Despite the disappointing fielding display, Rodrigues emphasized the team’s determination to rectify the situation. She rejected attributing the lapses to fatigue, asserting that it was an area that required focused improvement.
The recent series has seen a mix of performances from the Indian team since December, with Amol Muzumdar taking over as the head coach. While they secured significant wins in the Test matches against England and Australia, the T20I series against England ended in a 2-1 loss. The 50-over matches against Australia proved challenging.
Reflecting on the coaching transition, Rodrigues praised the efforts of the new coaching staff, acknowledging the need for additional time to further strengthen their synergy with the players. She highlighted the importance of a collaborative effort to enhance team performance.
As the India women’s cricket team prepares for upcoming challenges, including the T20 series, Rodrigues expressed optimism about continued growth and improvement. Despite the demanding schedule and back-to-back series against England and Australia, she credited the support staff for efficiently managing the team’s workload, ensuring players’ well-being amid the intense cricket calendar.
In conclusion, Rodrigues affirmed the team’s commitment to hard work, acknowledging that results might take time but emphasizing that the relentless effort was within their control. The focus remains on learning and growing together as a cohesive unit.
Playing XI and Promises for Future
As the Indian women’s team evaluates their performance and strategizes for future matches, Jemimah Rodrigues provided insights into their approach and the collaborative effort needed to overcome challenges.
The team’s commitment to improving fielding standards and their dedication to continuous hard work serve as the building blocks for a resilient comeback. Despite the setbacks, the players remain united in their pursuit of excellence on the cricket field.
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