When discussing Indian women’s cricket, the past year has been challenging for the team. Unfortunately, team India experienced a group-stage exit at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. After suffering defeats against New Zealand and Australia, the women in blue did not advance to the knockout stage for the first time since 2016.
Despite the disappointment and setbacks, the team has regrouped and is preparing for future challenges. Next year, India will host the Women’s ODI World Cup, which is set to be an important event, as it will likely be Harmanpreet Kaur’s final tournament.
InsideSport recently spoke with Indian women’s cricket team player Sajana Sajeevan. In a conversation, Sajana opened up about India’s performance at the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup and shared insights about captain Harmanpreet Kaur, affectionately called Harman di.
A disappointing World Cup campaign
India entered the 2024 T20 World Cup with high hopes but faced an early exit in the group stage. Contemplating on the campaign, Sajana admitted the team was deeply disheartened after their elimination.
“Yeah, actually we were down because we had such a well-balanced team. We expected a little more from everyone. But unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned. Still, each and every player was backing each other. Especially Harman di. She created a professional atmosphere that helped us hold our heads high,” Sajana said.
Despite the setbacks, Sajana talked about the positive energy within the camp. “No one blamed anyone. That bonding was super special in our team. The support staff, like Amul sir and Bali sir, kept us motivated, telling us to prepare better for the next World Cup. Hopefully, we’ll come back stronger,” she added.
Harmanpreet Kaur: The captain and leader
Sajana, who also plays under Harmanpreet in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) for Mumbai Indians, spoke highly of her captaincy. According to Sajana, Harmanpreet’s ability to understand her players is unmatched.
“Harman di is the same person everywhere—be it the Indian team or the WPL. She supports and backs everyone. One of her strengths is knowing Indian players better than anyone else. She understands how to set the field for each bowler, whether it’s Radha, Deepti, or Smriti. She knows everything,” Sajana said with admiration.
Recalling a special moment from the WPL, Sajana shared how Harmanpreet appreciated her match-winning six against Delhi Capitals. “She didn’t know much about me in the first season, but after that six, she had a personal chat with me. It’s moments like these that make her such an inspiring leader,” Sajana concluded. With such company and strong leadership, the Indian women’s cricket team looks forward to overcoming challenges and achieving greater success in future tournaments.
