This time, in South Africa, Harmanpreet will as soon as once more lead the Women in Blue within the subsequent version of the Women’s T20 World Cup. Team India are nonetheless looking forward to their first identify.
The maximum a hit crew within the historical past of the event is Australia, who’ve received the identify 5 occasions.
Since the inception of the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2009 India have controlled to go into the general simplest as soon as – in 2020 – below Harmanpreet’s captaincy.
This time India are positioned along England, Ireland, Pakistan and West Indies in Group B. The Women in Blue will kick off their World Cup marketing campaign towards arch-rivals Pakistan on February 12 on the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town.
Harmanpreet Kaur (TOI Photo)
As the crew gears up for the mega event, TimesofIndia.com stuck up with India skipper Harmanpreet to discuss the crew’s World Cup plans and attainable identify possibilities, key gamers, who among Yastika Bhatia and Richa Ghosh as the most popular wicketkeeper, younger sensation and U-19 T20 World Cup profitable captain shafali vermaSourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni’s affect on her and a lot more…
What has been the largest factor that you’ve realized as India captain?
The quantity of duties I’ve been getting day-to-day. This is the largest factor and this assists in keeping me motivated. Every day is particular for me. Leading a crew is a huge success for any cricketer. I’m in point of fact thankful that I’ve were given this chance to steer my nation. The enhance I’ve been getting from the Indian media, lovers and types like Puma, these items encourage me to do neatly.
India completed runners-up on the 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup while you had been captain. Once once more, you’ll lead the crew. Whatare the plans?
The Tri-series (in SA – India, SA and WI) helped us in development the crew forward of the World Cup. Before the World Cup, we needed to play a event like this (Tri Series) that might assist us in development the crew. We simply sought after to do neatly within the event. This used to be one thing essential for all people. We need to stay doing the precise factor which we have now been discussing.
Image credit: T20 World Cup
India defeated Australia within the organization level however misplaced within the ultimate within the 2020 version of the T20 WC. What went improper at the moment, you assume?
These issues occur. You can not trade no matter came about (within the ultimate). We realized numerous issues. We sought after to give a boost to on the ones spaces. Everyone is contributing to the sport and that is the reason what you are expecting from the gamers. We don’t seem to be placing additional force on any individual however crew contribution is one thing we have now been discussing. In the previous few months, we have now observed some match-winners within the crew. That’s why we have now been discussing how essential everybody’s contribution is. It is just right to peer that each and every unmarried participant is becoming concerned and doing neatly. This used to be one thing lacking up to now. Contribution from each and every participant used to be essential and that is one thing (which is) visual now.
India are positioned along England, Pakistan, Ireland and West Indies in Group B. How simple or laborious do you assume it’ll be for India to qualify for the knockouts?
I don’t believe any recreation goes to be simple for us. It’s no longer simple for us to qualify as a result of all of the groups in point of fact wish to do neatly at the global level. For us, you will need to do the precise paintings and stay focussing on positive spaces. All the groups are doing in point of fact neatly at the moment. We simply want to focal point.
According to you, which crew will pose the largest risk to India on the World Cup, this time?
All the groups are essential. They are doing in point of fact neatly. We can not take any crew evenly. We simply wish to move there and again our strengths reasonably than fascinated by what others can do. If we will be able to focal point on what we will be able to do, this is going to be the important thing for us.
Image credit: T20 World Cup
In phrases of captaincy, which Indian cricketer (male or feminine) do you appreciate probably the most?
For me, Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni. The manner they led the crew is one thing I in point of fact apply. When Sourav used to be main the crew, Indian males’s cricket used to be rising. The manner he (Sourav) used to be converting the ambience (within the dressing room) and trusting and backing the gamers.
Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni, we know the way suave he used to be at the box. Today, if you happen to watch his (Dhoni’s) previous event movies, you’ll be able to nonetheless be told numerous issues from him. I’ve realized so much from Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni. I at all times check out to pick out up small little issues that may assist me and the crew at the box. They have performed a large function in my existence once we speak about captaincy.
You have nearly 3000 T20I runs and likewise a century – which knock of yours is your own favourite and why?
Each and each and every run is essential for a participant. Centuries are at all times essential. They are at all times as regards to your middle. I give extra significance to runs. Whether you ranking 10, 50 or 100, while you win the sport on your crew, when your crew wins, that makes you extra glad. For me, profitable runs (runs that assist a crew win) are at all times extra essential than person runs.
Who can be your go-to wicketkeeper within the World Cup – Yastika or Richa and why?
Both are in point of fact just right wicket-keepers and feature finished in point of fact neatly for the rustic. It’s tricky for me to pick out one, however Richa has finished in point of fact neatly within the Under-19 World Cup and Yastika is doing in point of fact neatly in home cricket. Whenever she (Yastika) has were given the danger, she has finished neatly for the crew. Both have finished neatly and it is tricky for me to pick out one however whoever is in the most productive contact on the closing second and fits the combo, we will be able to pick out that woman.
Shafali used to be in super shape within the Under-19 World Cup. You will have to had been glad to peer that and will have to be hoping she carries that shape into the World Cup, to assist India clinch the identify…
Definitely. She has been a key participant for us. Whenever she plays, we’re at all times in a greater place. I simply need her to stay taking part in (her batting) and stay backing herself. Because on every occasion she is doing these items, she is in higher form. She will have to stay taking part in (herself), and stay doing the precise factor. Her teammates are at all times there for enhance. She can be a key participant for us and I’d at all times love to have her again.
Shafali Verma (Twitter Photo)
How simple or tricky is it to be an attacking batter in girls’s cricket?
Nowadays cricket has utterly modified. Everyone loves to play competitive cricket. It isn’t simple. It takes numerous braveness, numerous focal point and numerous focus. Nowadays, cricket calls for attacking batting. It is just right to peer numerous batters converting their batting taste. They simply introduced that positivity of their batting. This is one thing I in point of fact like to look at.
BCCI just lately introduced equivalent event charges for women and men cricketers. Your feedback…
It is the largest step taken by way of the BCCI. I’m in point of fact grateful to them. This will encourage the gamers to do neatly. This may also encourage and encourage different ladies to take in cricket as a occupation. This is a brilliant initiative taken by way of the BCCI.
You just lately stated that you’re in point of fact having a look ahead to the ladies’s IPL – the primary version can be performed this yr. Do you assume this event can revolutionize the ladies’s recreation in India, simply love it did for the boys’s recreation?
Yes undoubtedly. When the boys’s IPL began, we noticed immense growth in males’s cricket. The quantity of ability in males’s cricket has higher too. The identical factor goes to occur in girls’s cricket additionally. We are going to peer many abilities entering girls’s cricket with the assistance of this Women’s IPL. I’m in point of fact having a look ahead to it.
One factor that the IPL has finished through the years for the boys’s recreation is giving very gifted cricketers the platform they want to exhibit their abilities in the end serving to them play for India – the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and many others. have all adopted this direction. Do you assume the similar can occur for the ladies’s recreation by means of the ladies’s IPL?
Earlier, there used to be a bridge between home cricket and International cricket. When the gamers from home cricket, after their just right display, were given the danger within the world scene, took time to settle in with the world gamers and stipulations. It used to be tricky for them. After the IPL, we do not see that force at the gamers. They at all times have that self belief they usually at all times glance in just right contact. And the similar factor goes to occur in girls’s cricket as neatly.
After the Women’s IPL begins, we’re going to see that modify in girls’s cricket too. Women’s IPL will minimize down the ones variations in girls’s cricket too. When the cricketers (girls) will percentage the dressing room and face them (world gamers) at the box within the Women’s IPL after which face them at the world level, it would possibly not make a lot of a distinction to them and can ease the force aswell.
If you want to trade one rule of world cricket, which one would that be and why?
When a participant hits a six out of the bottom, it will have to be counted as greater than six runs. Because it takes numerous laborious paintings and gear to hit that massive shot. I believe that the batter will have to get greater than six runs.
Harmanpreet Kaur (TOI Photo)
(Also) once we hit a boundary and run a unmarried, double or triple, the ones runs will have to even be counted. Those runs can also be added to that boundary (4). If we will be able to upload the ones runs (run between the wickets) ahead of the ball hits the ropes for a boundary, that can be fascinating.
What does Harmanpreet love to do maximum when she isn’t enjoying cricket?
When It’s not that i am enjoying cricket, I love to spend time with my circle of relatives. Nowadays, we do not get a lot time to spend with circle of relatives. I spend time with my canines. When I’m house, I do not move on vacations or outings, I identical to to be at house and spend as a lot time with my circle of relatives. This is one thing I revel in probably the most when It’s not that i am enjoying cricket.
Your take to your affiliation with Puma…
I’m in point of fact thankful. I by no means concept that someday I’d be related to Puma. I used to be certain that the laborious paintings I’ve been putting in place for such a lot of years would repay in the future. The day has come. It is a huge day no longer simply in girls’s cricket however in different sports activities as neatly. Nowadays, I see most ladies, throughout sports activities, the use of Puma sneakers and spikes, particularly. These issues we at all times wanted at the box that Puma is offering. I’m in point of fact feeling proud that I’m going to be related to Puma. The enhance, to this point, I’ve gotten from them is excellent. They had been so sort to me.