Birmingham 5 August : In advance of the Indian team’s departure to Birmingham for the women’s T20 cricket tournament in 2022 Commonwealth Games, words from Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur were all about the possibility of winning the gold medal, in particular at Edgbaston.On Saturday, India’s bid to win the prized yellow metal could be boosted in the event that they can cross the hurdle dubbed England in the opening semifinal.
For Harmanpreet’s team the chance to win the gold medal is an chance to be realized in the coming weekend.A gold medal or even winning the podium could bring another wave of female cricket supporters given that winning an award in an international sporting event is a major goal in India.
In the Indian campaign to date there have been positives in all areas despite the heartbreaking loss of three wickets to Australia from an area of strength.Harmanpreet was the first to lead in attack with the bat in opposition to Australia and was followed by Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma in the match against Pakistan.
When they faced Barbados in which the score was reduced to 92-4 Jemimah Rodrigues (56 not out) and Deepti Sharma (34 not out) made a statement with the bat.
With the ball the pacer Renuka Thakur has been a hammering her way to picking up two four-wicket hauls, and is now the top wicket-taker in the tournament.A seasoned all-rounder Sneh Rana’s first game in the multi-nation tournament saw her stifle Pakistan’s run rate and with the help of Deepti and Radha Yadav India’s spin team is putting in a solid performance.
However, one of India’s weak spots in the past was their lack of success in big games.
Similar to, in the ODI World Cup this year, they failed to beat Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa (by the barest of margins).
Additionally, England have been a team that has shattered India’s way to glory in the past, whether it in ODI World Cup final in 2017 or in semi-finals of T20 World Cup in the year 2018.In spite of the absence of regular captain Heather Knight, England have an impressive appearance as they finished top of Group B.This is in contrast to India’s second-place finishing in Group A.
Teenager Alice Capsey has been at her most attacking at number three, while veteran pacer Katherine Brunt has chipped in with bat, and more important, with the ball.Left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone, young pacers Issy Wong and Freya Kemp have been a joy to observe.
It is hoped that India, with a ‘killing attitude’, can eliminate the differences of the past that resulted in them being second the best in the games that were important and continue to fight to win an Olympic gold medal.
Squads
England: Maia Bouchier, Katherine Brunt, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones (wicketkeeper), Freya Kemp, Nat Sciver (vice-captain), Bryony Smith, Issy Wong and Danni Wyatt
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, S.Meghana, Taniyaa Sapna Bhatia (wicket-keeper), Yastika Bhatia (wicket-keeper), Deepti Sharma, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Renuka Thakur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Radha Yadav, Harleen Deol and Sneh Rana.
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