"We all are very greedy to win every game" - Harmanpreet Kaur ahead of Asia Cup
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has said her team is "very greedy" to win every game at the upcoming Women's Asia Cup 2024 in Sri Lanka. The continental tournament would be an appetizing preparation for the marquee T20 World Cup event in October.
India will begin their campaign on July 19 against arch-rivals Pakistan. Kaur and her team are coming off an excellent all-round series performance against South Africa at home. Alongside the momentum, they'll also carry the pressure of being defending champions.
"The kind of approach we have right now, every day whenever we are going to play the matches, we are giving equal importance to all matches," Harmanpreet told Star Sports (via India Today). "We all are very greedy to win every game, and that is something we feel should be in a team, and this is what everyone in the team is feeling."
After Pakistan, India will play the UAE and Nepal in the group stage. The top two teams of this group will then compete with the best sides from the other group, which comprises of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Thailand in the semi-finals.
"There is a lot of pressure on us" - Harmanpreet Kaur on the Pakistan clash
Answering the typical question about feeling the head ahead of the clash against Pakistan with grace, Harmanpreet acknowledged that her players will feel pressurized but said that she'll try her best to keep their focus on the basics and make them feel that it's just another game.
"When you play against Pakistan, there is a different atmosphere in both the countries. Both the countries want their team to win. As a player, there is a lot of pressure for us. But as a leader, it is my responsibility to make my team feel light in that environment, so that they don't think that we are playing against Pakistan or it's a pressure game," Harmanpreet said.
She added:
"It will be important for me to make everyone feel that this is also just another game. We have to do well for the team and make the team win. Other than thinking about what is going on in the stadium, who are the other people cheering for? Who are they talking about? Just focus on the main things. Don't think about the things that we can't control."
India flew through the previous Asia Cup, defeating Sri Lanka in the final with eight wickets in hand. Although this edition might be more difficult, Harmanpreet would not want her in-form girls to come back home without the trophy.