Team India finds itself in a precarious situation at the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, with its future in the tournament dependent on the outcome of Pakistan’s match against New Zealand. India hopes for a Pakistan win but not by a significant margin, as that could worsen India’s chances of progressing. But how did India get into this situation? Surprisingly, the root cause lies in the underperformance of three key players — Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, and Harmanpreet Kaur, often dubbed “SRH.”
How “SRH” Pushed Team India Into Trouble
The acronym “SRH” — Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, and Harmanpreet Kaur — symbolizes these three players, all match-winners in their own right. Unfortunately, their performances in the ongoing tournament have left much to be desired, pushing the team into this difficult scenario.
Smriti’s Struggles With the Bat
Smriti Mandhana, one of India’s most dependable players, had a strong start against Sri Lanka, scoring 50 runs off 38 balls, including five boundaries. However, this performance has been an anomaly in her tournament so far. In matches against Australia, New Zealand, and Pakistan, Smriti failed to deliver. Collectively, she could only muster 25 runs, far below her usual standards, with just two boundaries in three crucial games. Her lack of form has been a significant factor in India’s struggles.
Richa Ghosh’s Disappearing Act
Known for her aggressive batting, Richa Ghosh has failed to make an impact in this World Cup. She has scored fewer than 20 runs across the four matches India has played so far. Worse, in three of those matches, she didn’t even reach double figures. Her missteps behind the wicket, particularly in the match against Australia, added to India’s woes, weakening their position further.
Harmanpreet’s Half-Century: A Double-Edged Sword
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur has also struggled to lead the team to victory. Despite scoring a half-century against Australia, this achievement turned out to be a curse. History shows that whenever Harmanpreet has scored a half-century in a T20 against Australia, Team India has lost. This pattern continued, with India losing all five matches where Harmanpreet reached the milestone. The latest example was in the Sharjah match, where India’s defeat put them in a precarious position.
Hopes Rest on Pakistan
As things stand, Team India is now relying on Pakistan’s performance against New Zealand. India hopes for a Pakistan win, but not by a large margin, as a big victory could complicate India’s progression to the next stage. This dependence on a rival team highlights the missed opportunities and lackluster performances that have plagued India throughout the tournament.
With top players like Smriti, Richa, and Harmanpreet underperforming, Team India will need to regroup and hope for the best if they are to keep their Women’s T20 World Cup dream alive.
