3 reasons why India were knocked out early in the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup
The 2024 Women's T20 World Cup ended in disappointment for India as they were knocked out in the group stage for the first time in eight years. Expectations were high from the Women in Blue, especially after consistent knockout appearances in previous editions.
However, despite a few strong individual performances and moments of brilliance, they failed to make it past the group stage. Their fate was sealed when New Zealand beat Pakistan by 54 runs on Monday, October 14.
India's campaign was a mix of highs and lows. They secured convincing wins against Pakistan and Sri Lanka but fell short against tougher opponents New Zealand and Australia. Harmanpreet Kaur and the girls were left ruing missed opportunities and tactical errors that ultimately cost them a semifinal spot.
On that note, here are three key reasons why India were knocked out early in the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup.
3 reasons why India were knocked out early in the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup
#3 India's top batters underperformed
One of the key reasons for their early exit was the poor form of their top batters throughout the tournament. Players like Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and Jemimah Rodrigues failed to perform consistently.
Mandhana, who was expected to be among the top run-scorers in this edition, managed only 75 runs in four innings. Jemimah scored 68 in four innings. Shafali Verma showed glimpses but could not deliver as per expectations either, scoring only 97 in four games.
Their inability to get off to strong starts, especially in crucial games, put immense pressure on the middle order. In their must-win game against Australia, Mandhana struggled, scoring just six runs off 12 balls, while Shafali fell early too.
Without significant contributions from key batters, the Women in Blue found the going difficult.
#2 Tactical missteps and inconsistent batting approach
India's approach with the bat was inconsistent and overly cautious, particularly in the middle overs. Against Australia, captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who was required to play an impactful innings, batted at a slow pace, scoring just 19 runs off her initial 25 deliveries. This cautious approach allowed the Australian bowlers to dictate terms and build pressure, leading to a gradual increase in India's required run rate.
Harmanpreet did manage to bring the team back into contention with a late flourish, but the damage was already done. India's inability to rotate strike and find boundaries at key junctures hurt their chances.
The lack of intent in the middle overs, particularly from experienced players, made it difficult for them to get past the line, as Australia won by nine runs.
#1 Fielding lapses and missed opportunities
Harmanpreet Kaur and company's fielding performance was probably the most significant factor in their early elimination from the tournament. In crucial games, the side dropped catches and missed crucial run-out and stumping opportunities.
During the game against New Zealand, India's fielders dropped multiple catches. The same thing repeated against Australia where three dropped catches and a missed stumping allowed the defending champions to post a challenging total on the board.
These missed chances on the field were compounded by inconsistent bowling. Lack of support for each other as a bowling unit along with poor fielding made things difficult for the Women in Blue. The side's fielding has always been a concern and yet again, it proved to be a major reason why they could not advance to the knockout stage.