This time, in South Africa, Harmanpreet will as soon as once more lead the Women in Blue within the subsequent version of the Women’s T20 World Cup. Team India are nonetheless ready for his or her first title.
The most profitable group within the historical past of the match is Australia, who’ve gained the title 5 occasions.
Since the inception of the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2009 India have managed to enter the ultimate solely as soon as – in 2020 – underneath Harmanpreet’s captaincy.
‘Can’t take any group evenly’: India captain Harmanpreet Kaur forward of Women’s T20 World Cup
This time India are positioned alongside England, Ireland, Pakistan and West Indies in Group B. The Women in Blue will kick off their World Cup marketing campaign towards arch-rivals Pakistan on February 12 on the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town.
Harmanpreet Kaur (TOI Photo)
As the group gears up for the mega match, TimesofIndia.com caught up with India skipper Harmanpreet to speak concerning the group’s World Cup plans and potential title probabilities, key gamers, who amongst Yastika Bhatia and Richa Ghosh as the popular wicketkeeper, younger sensation and U-19 T20 World Cup successful captain Shafali Verma, Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni’s affect on her and far more…
What has been the most important factor that you’ve got learnt as India captain?
The quantity of duties I’ve been getting day-to-day. This is the most important factor and this retains me motivated. Every day is particular for me. Leading a group is a giant achievement for any cricketer. I’m actually grateful that I’ve bought this chance to steer my nation. The help I’ve been getting from the Indian media, followers and types like Puma, these items encourage me to do nicely.
India completed runners-up on the 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup if you had been captain. Once once more, you’ll lead the group. Whatare the plans?
The Tri-series (in SA – India, SA and WI) helped us in constructing the group forward of the World Cup. Before the World Cup, we needed to play a match like this (Tri Series) that would assist us in constructing the group. We simply needed to do nicely within the match. This was one thing crucial for all of us. We must preserve doing the precise work which we now have been discussing.
Image credit score: T20 World Cup
India defeated Australia within the group stage however misplaced within the ultimate within the 2020 version of the T20 WC. What went fallacious at the moment, you suppose?
These issues occur. You can not change no matter occurred (within the ultimate). We learnt lots of issues. We needed to enhance on these areas. Everyone is contributing to the sport and that is what you anticipate from the gamers. We will not be placing additional stress on anybody however group contribution is one thing we now have been discussing. In the previous few months, we now have seen some match-winners within the group. That’s why we now have been discussing how necessary everybody’s contribution. It is nice to see that each single participant is getting concerned and doing nicely. This was one thing lacking prior to now. Contribution from every participant was necessary and that is one thing (which is) seen now.
India are positioned alongside England, Pakistan, Ireland and West Indies in Group B. How simple or onerous do you suppose will probably be for India to qualify for the knockouts?
I do not suppose any recreation goes to be simple for us. It’s not simple for us to qualify as a result of all of the groups actually wish to do nicely on the world stage. For us, you will need to do the precise work and preserve focussing on sure areas. All the groups are doing very well these days. We simply have to focus.
According to you, which group will pose the most important risk to India on the World Cup, this time?
All the groups are necessary. They are doing very well. We can not take any group evenly. We simply wish to go there and again our strengths slightly than fascinated by what others can do. If we will give attention to what we will do, that’s going to be the important thing for us.
Image credit score: T20 World Cup
In phrases of captaincy, which Indian cricketer (male or feminine) do you admire essentially the most?
For me, Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni. The manner they led the group is one thing I actually observe. When Sourav was main the group, Indian males’s cricket was rising. The manner he (Sourav) was altering the environment (within the dressing room) and trusting and backing the gamers.
Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni, we all know how intelligent he was on the sector. Today, when you watch his (Dhoni’s) previous match movies, you may nonetheless study lots of issues from him. I’ve learnt loads from Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni. I at all times attempt to choose up small small issues that may assist me and the group on the sector. They have performed a giant position in my life, after we speak about captaincy.
You have virtually 3000 T20I runs and likewise a century – which knock of yours is your private favorite and why?
Each and each run is necessary for a participant. Centuries are at all times necessary. They are at all times near your coronary heart. I give extra significance to runs. Whether you rating 10, 50 or 100, if you win the sport to your group, when your group wins, that makes you extra completely happy. For me, successful runs (runs that assist a group win) are at all times extra necessary than particular person runs.
Who might be your go-to wicketkeeper within the World Cup – Yastika or Richa and why?
Both are actually good wicket-keepers and have accomplished very well for the nation. It’s troublesome for me to select one, however Richa has accomplished very well within the Under-19 World Cup and Yastika is doing very well in home cricket. Whenever she (Yastika) has bought the prospect, she has accomplished nicely for the group. Both have accomplished nicely and it is troublesome for me to select one however whoever is in the perfect contact on the final second and fits the mixture, we’ll choose that woman.
Shafali was in large kind within the Under-19 World Cup. You should have been completely happy to see that and should be hoping she carries that kind into the World Cup, to assist India clinch the title…
Definitely. She has been a key participant for us. Whenever she performs, we’re at all times in a greater place. I simply need her to maintain having fun with (her batting) and preserve backing herself. Because every time she is doing these items, she is in higher form. She ought to preserve having fun with (herself), and preserve doing the precise work. Her teammates are at all times there for help. She might be a key participant for us and I at all times wish to again her.
Shafali Verma (Twitter Photo)
How simple or troublesome is it to be an attacking batter in ladies’s cricket?
Nowadays cricket has completely modified. Everyone likes to play aggressive cricket. It shouldn’t be simple. It takes lots of braveness, numerous focus and plenty of focus. Nowadays, cricket calls for attacking batting. It is nice to see lots of batters altering their batting model. They simply introduced that positivity of their batting. This is one thing I actually like to look at.
BCCI not too long ago introduced equal match charges for women and men cricketers. Your feedback…
It is the most important step taken by the BCCI. I’m actually grateful to them. This will encourage the gamers to do nicely. This may also encourage and encourage different ladies to take up cricket as a profession. This is a superb initiative taken by the BCCI.
You not too long ago stated that you’re actually wanting ahead to the ladies’s IPL – the primary version might be performed this yr. Do you suppose this match can revolutionise the ladies’s recreation in India, identical to it did for the boys’s recreation?
Yes positively. When the boys’s IPL began, we noticed immense enchancment in males’s cricket. The quantity of expertise in males’s cricket has elevated too. The similar factor goes to occur in ladies’s cricket additionally. We are going to see many skills coming into ladies’s cricket with the assistance of this Women’s IPL. I’m actually wanting ahead to it.
One factor that the IPL has accomplished over time for the boys’s recreation is giving very proficient cricketers the platform they should showcase their expertise ultimately serving to them play for India – the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and so on. have all adopted this route. Do you suppose the identical can occur for the ladies’s recreation by way of the ladies’s IPL?
Earlier, there was a bridge between home cricket and International cricket. When the gamers from home cricket, after their good present, bought the prospect within the worldwide scene, took time to settle in with the worldwide gamers and circumstances. It was onerous for them. After the IPL, we do not see that stress on the gamers. They at all times have that confidence they usually at all times look in good contact. And the identical factor goes to occur in ladies’s cricket as nicely.
After the Women’s IPL begins, we’re going to see that change in ladies’s cricket too. Women’s IPL will minimize down these variations in ladies’s cricket too. When the cricketers (ladies) will share the dressing room and face them (worldwide gamers) on the sector within the Women’s IPL after which face them on the worldwide stage, it will not make a lot of a distinction to them and can ease the stress as nicely.
If you can change one rule of worldwide cricket, which one would that be and why?
When a participant hits a six out of the stadium, it ought to be counted as greater than six runs. Because it takes lots of onerous work and energy to hit that large shot. I believe that the batter ought to get greater than six runs.
Harmanpreet Kaur (TOI Photo)
(Also) after we hit a boundary and run a single, double or three runs, these runs must also be counted. Those runs might be added to that boundary (4). If we will add these runs (run between the wickets) earlier than the ball hits the ropes for a boundary, that might be attention-grabbing.
What does Harmanpreet love to do most when she shouldn’t be enjoying cricket?
When I’m not enjoying cricket, I wish to spend time with my household. Nowadays, we do not get a lot time to spend with household. I spend time with my canines. When I’m dwelling, I do not go on holidays or outings, I identical to to be at dwelling and spend as a lot time with my household. This is one thing I take pleasure in essentially the most when I’m not enjoying cricket.
Your take in your affiliation with Puma…
I’m actually grateful. I by no means thought that sooner or later I’d be related to Puma. I used to be positive that the onerous work I’ve been placing in for thus a few years would repay sometime. The day has come. It is a giant day not simply in ladies’s cricket however in different sports activities as nicely.
Nowadays, I see most ladies, throughout sports activities, utilizing Puma footwear and spikes, particularly. These issues we at all times wanted on the sector that Puma is offering. I’m actually feeling proud that I’m going to be related to Puma. The help, thus far, I’ve bought from them is nice. They have been so sort to me.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com