Indore, Oct 20 (NationPress) Following a gripping four-run defeat to England in a pivotal 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup encounter at Holkar Stadium, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed that the wicket of Smriti Mandhana marked a significant shift in their run chase, which had seemed to be under control. This loss has placed India’s World Cup dreams in jeopardy.

India was comfortably positioned at 234/3 when Smriti was dismissed by Linsey Smith after scoring 88 runs. Subsequently, a familiar collapse ensued, resulting in India finishing four runs short of the target of 289. Harmanpreet remarked, “I believe Smriti's wicket was a pivotal moment for us. I still think we had enough batters, but I can't explain how things turned against us. Credit to England for their relentless bowling and for taking wickets.”

The sting of faltering in the crucial final overs was palpable for Harmanpreet. “It’s disappointing because we’ve put in immense effort and kept progressing until the end, but the last 5-6 overs didn’t unfold as planned. That’s the hardest part, and it's a truly heartbreaking moment.”

“We’re playing commendable cricket and won’t give up. However, we need to cross that final hurdle as it has been the last three games where we showcased good performances but ended up losing. The next match is crucial, and we aim to surpass that line,” she added.

She praised India’s bowlers for restricting England to 288/8 on a pitch conducive to high scores. “Our bowlers performed admirably, especially when Nat and Heather were batting confidently. We believed that keeping them under 300 was a victory in itself due to the pitch's fast nature, which is why we opted to bowl first. We executed many strategies well, but the last five overs are an area we need to revisit as a group,” Harmanpreet explained.

When questioned about team selection, particularly the exclusion of Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet stood firm. “These discussions will continue because things were going smoothly when Smriti and I were at the crease. But her dismissal was a turning point for us. Nevertheless, we had Richa, Amanjot, and Deepti, who have previously secured victories for us. Unfortunately, today we couldn’t deliver.”

With India now facing a three-match losing streak, the upcoming match against New Zealand in Navi Mumbai is a must-win scenario. “This was a crucial match for us all. We aimed to play well as a team. Even though we lost, we played commendable cricket and didn’t hand anything easily to our opponents. The next game is vital, and we hope it turns in our favor,” concluded Harmanpreet.

–IANS

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