India’s hopes of constructing it to the ICC Girls’s T20 World Cup 2024 semifinals got here to an finish in a dramatic vogue.
For the primary time in eight years, the group didn’t progress previous the group stage. The ultimate blow got here when New Zealand secured a dominant 54-run victory over Pakistan of their final group-stage match on October 14, reserving their place within the semifinals alongside Australia and eliminating each India and Pakistan from the event. It was a crushing finish to India’s marketing campaign, as that they had been broadly considered one of many favorites.
India’s exit from the Girls’s T20 World Cup 2024
India’s destiny was out of their palms following a heart-wrenching nine-run loss to Australia of their ultimate group-stage fixture. Chasing a goal of 152, India faltered early with key gamers Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues dismissed for low scores. Regardless of a valiant effort from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who remained unbeaten on 54, and Deepti Sharma’s 29 off 25 balls, India have been unable to capitalize within the closing overs.
In a important ultimate over, India required 14 runs off Annabel Sutherland’s bowling, however Harmanpreet’s cautious method – taking two singles off the primary two balls – finally left the group in need of the goal.
The loss to Australia positioned India’s semifinal hopes on a knife-edge, with their qualification depending on the result of the New Zealand-Pakistan conflict. Sadly for India, New Zealand’s bowlers dismantled Pakistan’s chase with a medical efficiency, eliminating India from the event.
Additionally READ: Twitter Reactions: India misses out on a semifinal spot as New Zealand knocks out Pakistan in Girls’s T20 World Cup 2024
Stinging criticism from Punam Raut
Amid the aftermath of India’s exit, veteran cricketer Punam Raut made waves with a pointed tweet seemingly aimed on the senior gamers, together with captain Harmanpreet Kaur. Raut, with out immediately naming anybody, wrote on X,
In a scathing publish, Raut wrote, “Having 100 matches expertise = 0 expertise… if it may’t be utilized in huge video games,”
Having 100 matches expertise = 0 expertise..
if it’s can’t be utilized in huge video games.— Punam Raut (@raut_punam) October 14, 2024
Although she didn’t identify anybody particularly, Raut’s pointed comment was broadly interpreted as a critique of essentially the most seasoned gamers within the group – Harmanpreet, Mandhana, Jemimah and Deepti – all of whom have performed over 100 T20Is. Her tweet recommended frustration with the shortcoming of the senior core to step up in important moments, notably within the high-pressure state of affairs towards Australia.
Raut, herself a participant with vital expertise, having represented India in 4 Assessments, 73 ODIs, and 35 T20Is, expressed what many followers might have been feeling – that regardless of their expertise, India’s senior gamers didn’t rise to the event when it mattered most. Her tweet has sparked dialog and debate concerning the management and composure of India’s most dependable gamers, elevating questions on their skill to deal with strain in knockout conditions.
Additionally READ: IND-W vs AUS-W: Right here’s why Phoebe Litchfield wasn’t given out regardless of being judged LBW in Girls’s T20 World Cup 2024
This text was first printed at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Instances firm.