Indian Women’s Team and the quest for a reliable finisher in T20Is
On 8th August 2022, the Indian Women’s team came agonizingly close to clinching the Commonwealth Gold as they fell short of the Australian total by nine runs. An unwarranted batting collapse saw them slip from 118/3 to be all-out for 152.
While the loss in the CWG final was heartbreaking, it pointed to a perennial problem with the batting lineup--excessive reliance on allrounders to bail the team out of danger. The T20I squad lacks a reliable finisher, and when the overseas tour of England begins on 10th September, the Women In Blue should search for one.
Does the Indian Women’s Team lack options?
On closer inspection, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side is not short of quality batters with a proven domestic record. However, most of them are top-order players who are forced to warm the bench or play out of position.
For instance, Sabbhineni Meghana, Yastika Bhatia and Jemimah Rodrigues are either openers or suited to play one-down. But the CWG final saw Yastika in uncharted territory as she came out to bat at number 9! Certainly a fish out of water in an all-important final after coming in as a concussion substitute! And unfortunately, she has now been dropped from the T20I squad.
An exciting prospect in S. Meghana was not considered as she could not find a place at the top, boasting the likes of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. Even all-rounder Deepti Sharma, batting at number 6 or lower, does not help the team’s cause when chasing a stiff total.
Can Kiran Navgire be the answer to the Indian Women’s finishing woes?
Kiran Navgire in action in the Women's T20 Challenge (PC: Twitter)
Kiran Navgire’s name caught everyone’s eyes after a breakthrough domestic season with Nagaland. The 27-year-old amassed 525 runs in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy, with the highest score of 162 off just 76 deliveries.
Navgire made it to the Velocity squad in the Women’s T20 Challenge 2022. She wowed with a 34-ball 69 but followed it up with a forgettable 13-ball duck. Such changing fortunes may force some critics to question Navgire’s selection for the England tour, and rightly so.
But some players are once-in-a-generation talents and need to be groomed and tried at the highest level. However, can Navgire adapt herself to the role of a finisher? It remains to be seen as she has plied her trade at the top in the domestic circuit.
Other options at hand for the Indian Women’s Team
Richa Ghosh has made a comeback to the squad in place of Yastika. She can be a long-term prospect if she brings consistency to her batting and improves her keeping skills.
Dayalan Hemalatha has also returned after an impressive season with the Railways. Can she make a mark and cement her place as a finisher?
The Indian Women’s T20I matches against England need to answer many questions. The Women In Blue need to lessen their over-dependence on Verma and Mandhana. Failure of the openers should not serve as a death knell for the team, especially in a knockout match.
Also read: Unheard Stories: BB Nimbalkar - The Don Bradman that never was
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