Former India pacer Shikha Pandey has urged India captain Harmanpreet Kaur to abandon her instinct to rebuild after wickets fall and instead play her natural, aggressive game as the Women in Blue gear up for a must-win ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 fixture against Bangladesh on Tuesday. The advice comes at a critical juncture, with India's semifinal hopes under pressure following a defeat to South Africa in Manchester.

Harmanpreet's Strike Rate Under the Spotlight

Pandey, speaking on JioStar, pointed to Harmanpreet's strike rate as a concern in India's middle order, and floated the idea of a batting reshuffle to help the captain rediscover her best form. 'Harmanpreet Kaur's strike rate raises concerns in India's middle order. When a wicket falls early, we have seen Yastika Bhatia come in, with Jemimah Rodrigues batting at number four. We might see Harman bat at number four, with Jemimah dropping to number five,' Pandey noted.

He added that once settled, Harmanpreet's quality shines through — particularly against spin. 'Regardless of her position, Harman should stop fixating on the wickets that have fallen and should not focus on rebuilding. When Harmanpreet Kaur is in form, she plays exceptionally. Once she gets settled, we will see her elegant straight drives and shots over deep mid-wicket. She excels against spinners, so if she can settle in, that will benefit India,' Pandey said.

Shree Charani's Breakthrough Tournament

Pandey also singled out left-arm spinner Shree Charani as a standout performer, with 10 wickets in just three matches. 'Shree Charani's bowling alongside Deepti Sharma has been impressive. She varies her pace well. The wicket of Annerie Dercksen was a prime example of a perfect delivery for a left-arm spinner, pitching on off and middle while hitting the off stump. Her length has been fantastic, consistently putting the stumps in play,' he said.

This comes amid growing recognition that India's spin attack could be a decisive weapon in the knockout stages, provided the batting unit gives them enough runs to defend.

Veda Krishnamurthy Backs Jemimah, Calls for Role Clarity

Former India batter Veda Krishnamurthy backed Jemimah Rodrigues despite her inconsistent returns in the tournament, arguing that unclear batting roles have compounded her difficulties. 'It's about having faith in yourself. After a couple of low scores, you tend to overthink, which can cause a batter to retreat,' Krishnamurthy said.

She was pointed in her prescription: 'I would like to see Jemimah bat at number three. Clear roles make preparation easier. When you say, "Be flexible," it becomes hard for a batter to know if they should be ready from the first ball or the third over. Give clarity — either she bats at number four or number three. Avoid shifting her around based on game situations.'

XI Changes Recommended: Kranti Gaud and Radha Yadav in Focus

Krishnamurthy also advocated for changes to India's playing XI ahead of the Bangladesh clash, specifically calling for the return of pace bowler Kranti Gaud and all-rounder Radha Yadav. 'I think Kranti Gaud should return against Bangladesh. You need a genuine fast bowler. We saw the impact of Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail against India,' she said.

On Radha Yadav, who reportedly dropped crucial catches in the South Africa game, Krishnamurthy remained supportive: 'I understand Radha Yadav dropped a couple of crucial catches that affected the game's outcome. But I still support her batting at number five. A couple of left-arm spinners could have helped against South Africa. You have to consider what a player contributes, and I believe Radha Yadav adds a lot.'

With a semifinal berth on the line, India's selection decisions and Harmanpreet's form in the Bangladesh match could define the Women in Blue's World Cup campaign.