Womens ODI World Cup | Muddled India must have a severe introspection

While it’s by no means perfect to have a look at something in hindsight, Jemimah Rodrigues’ ideas about India after the wins over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh make for attention-grabbing studying.

“It’s scary for the opponents to know that we’ve not had our excellent match but. In such tournaments, as a result of it’s so lengthy, it’s vital to peak on the proper time,” she acknowledged.

And therein lies the issue.

Rarely in ODI cricket, particularly at a World Cup, do groups have excellent matches. Australia, South Africa and England — the three groups to have sealed their semifinal berths — can attest to this.

In discovering stability between bat and ball within the line-up, the Women in Blue are caught between a rock and a tough place, and a giant basket of ‘what-ifs’ to stew over.

What will sting most is the defeat towards England in Indore.

India, needing 27 runs off 18 balls, misplaced the plot when it nearly appeared tough to. Having confronted points with simply 5 frontline bowlers, India opted for a sixth, a ploy that didn’t yield the specified outcomes.

Loose strains and lengths in key junctures, imperfect fielding efforts and protracted points with the batting order have all made an look right here and there, and generally collectively.

Against England, the shocker was the nagging ending challenge that has plagued the facet with bat and ball. And no, this isn’t current. Think of the horrors of that 2017 closing at Lord’s.

In Indore, after a shaky begin, seniors Smriti Mandhana and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur — alive to the perils of not having Jemimah, who was dropped to make means for Renuka Singh — laid the muse for what ought to have been a easy win.

In retrospect, the veteran pair realised the folly in not placing the sport to mattress and leaving it to the tail, regardless of how prolifically it had wagged all event.

India shouldn’t be an inexperienced facet anymore. Fixtures towards high-quality opponents, three high-octane editions of the Women’s Premier League and an general enchancment in strategy to method and bodily conditioning have all been main positives. If mindset is what’s setting this group up for failure, then it’s a purple flag that wants pressing consideration.

A stubbornness to deal with poor efficiency would possibly see India, vying for the ultimate semifinal spot, heading right into a sword battle with a nail-file.