'You Can Say You're Unlucky All Your Life,' Healy Critics Harmanpreet Kaur
Harmanpreet scored a 52 in the semifinal (Source - Twitter)
The whole of India felt shell shock when the Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur got run out in the semifinal clash of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023 against Australia. It turned out to be the game-changing moment of the game, after which India lost by just 5 runs.
While attempting a two on a sweep shot, Harmanpreet's bat got struck and she could make it home before the wicketkeeper whipped off bails. In hindsight, it can be said that the Indian skipper was running causally and she could have made it inside with ease even with her feet if she was sharp in her running.
However, after the match, the experienced Indian batter addressed her dismissal as an unfortunate one and said she couldn't have unluckier.
Although the Australian wicketkeeper thinks otherwise. The Australian keeper Alyssa Healy took a dig at the Indian captain's running between the wickets and questioned her effort and energy.
"Harmanpreet can say all she likes is that it was so unlucky. At the end of the day, she cruised back and probably could’ve been past the crease, an extra two meters, if she genuinely put in the effort. So, we’ll take it," Healy said in a chat with ABC sports.
"You can say you’re unlucky all your life, but it’s generally about effort and energy at that moment in time. And I know that’s something we speak about in the field in particular - putting in that effort and putting in that energy."
Eventually, Harman got run out on 52 in the 15th over of the chase, when India needed 40 runs off 32 deliveries
In her visual interview-cum-chat with the Australian media giant, the keeper-batter also stated that she usually doesn't take the bails off when she thinks the batter would make her ground.
"It's really funny, actually. Belinda Clark message me, actually, after the game, and said like: Thanks for taking off the bails. And it's (Harmanpreet Kaur's runout) quite an interesting one because I actually don't take bails a lot in that sort of scenario," Healy said.
"It's annoying. But for some reason, I felt the need to take the need to bail off and it was like a bizarre moment where I looked at the umpire and said, I think that's out."
The Meg Lanning-led Australia, who advanced to the final after beating India, will face the hosts South Africa on Sunday to bag the final silverware.