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When Harmanpreet’s 54* was not enough for India in a World Cup nail-biter vs Australia

Poulomi Chakraborty

Harmanpreet Kaur's exceptional effort (Source: AFP Photos)Harmanpreet Kaur's exceptional effort (Source: AFP Photos)

Every time India meets Australia on the cricket field, the air crackles with unfinished stories. The echoes of heartbreak from 2003, the sting of the 2015 semifinal, and the haunting memories of the 2023 final still linger in every Indian fan’s heart. Every time, both big names of cricket lock horns, cricket’s 22 yards turn into a fiery battlefield.

But who said heartbreak belongs only to men? The Women in Blue have their own scars. The Aussie women have also become their nightmare on several occasions, and the dramatic clash of the 2024 T20 World Cup is the biggest example of that.

In a crucial group stage clash, both rivals collide, and the Indian side is closer to glory. Amidst the mighty Aussie bowling, Harmanpreet Kaur held her head high, but unfortunately, it all went in vain. Let’s relive the dramatic moment of her indomitable effort.

Team India seize control early with fiery bowling

The bilateral series between two mighty sides spreads a different kind of excitement, but the World Cup adds some extra flavor to spice up the game. Over the years, India Women and Australia Women have delivered some unforgettable battles, packed with drama and skill. Their clash on the grand stage of the Women’s T20 World Cup, however, stood out as a spectacle no fan could forget.

In a crucial group stage clash, both sides clashed, and the Sharjah Cricket Stadium witnessed a pure thriller. After Australia Women elected to bat first, India’s bowlers took the charge. Losing two wickets within 17 runs, the Aussies were under pressure. But Grace Harris and Tahila McGrath’s crucial 62-run stand changed the flow.

Dominating over the mighty Australian side, Renuka Singh and Deepti Sharma dazzled the 22 yards, and the other players kept the domination alive. Facing the lethal bowling attack, the Australia Women faced the blows but put on a total of 151 runs.

Harmanpreet pushes India to the fullest, but Australia crush their hopes

Aiming for a thrilling win over the arch-rivals, Team India dared to dream big. After Shefali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, and Jemimah Rodrigues walked away early, pressure mounted on the Women in Blue. Taking the pressure off the side, Harmanpreet Kaur tightened her grip.

In front of the Australian bowling attack, the Indian side shattered, but the captain stood tall. They were close to glory, but in the last over, they needed 14 runs in six balls. As Harmanpreet Kaur was still on the crease, the Indian fans hoped how.

Standing on the nerve-wrecking moment, Australia made a masterstroke, bringing Annabel Sutherland in the death over. With calm precision, she bowled out Pooja Vastrakar on her second delivery. On the very next ball, Arundhati Reddy was heartbreakingly run out, leaving India reeling under immense pressure.

As India’s dash of hope was hanging on a single string but Australia had a last laugh. On the penultimate delivery, Shreyanka Patil was run out, and in the very last ball, Sutherland’s dismissal of Radha Yadav sealed a crushing end to Team India’s dream. Harmanpreet stood tall at one end, but the other batters failed to assist her at the crucial time.

From just 14 runs away from a crucial victory to losing four consecutive wickets in the final over, no dream can be broken more devastatingly. Amidst all the early blows, Harmanpreet Kaur gave her best effort to turn the tide, but fate had some other plan. 

Even Australia Women took away the game, but Harmanpreet Kaur’s heroics captivated fans’ hearts. In the history of India-Australia’s rivalry, the Indian captain’s brave fight will be forever close to fans’ hearts.