Women’s T20 WC: Muzumdar Reflects on Missed Chances After Narrow Defeat to Australia
Following India’s narrow nine-run loss to Australia in the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, head coach Amol Muzumdar expressed that the outcome might have been different had his team capitalized on a few crucial chances.
At the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, India dropped three catches and missed a stumping and a run-out opportunity, allowing Australia to post 151/8, the highest total at this venue in the tournament. In response, despite captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s valiant 54 off 47 balls, India finished at 142/9.
“We were in the game until the last over. The experience of Australia saw them through. It’s disappointing to lose, especially given that we fielded well. If we had taken a couple of chances, things could have been different—perhaps they would have scored 10 to 15 runs less. But we put forth our best effort,” Muzumdar stated after the match.
Discussing a mid-innings chat with Harmanpreet and Deepti Sharma, who formed a 63-run partnership, Muzumdar said, “Our focus was on the run-chase and keeping the net run rate in check. I advised them that if we took it deeper, we had a good chance to succeed. Harman’s presence was crucial until the end.”
Muzumdar also commented on a key lbw decision against Australia’s Phoebe Litchfield, which was overturned on review. “I’m not qualified to comment on umpiring decisions, but it seemed she didn’t move before the ball was bowled, which might have influenced the call,” he noted.
With Australia advancing to the semi-finals from Group A, India’s chances of progressing depend on the outcome of the New Zealand-Pakistan match on Monday. “I wish Pakistan all the best, and we’ll be watching that game closely,” Muzumdar added.
He also revealed that Harmanpreet has been playing through pain after suffering a head injury before the tournament. “It’s been fantastic working with this team; we care about each other. Harman is a vital part of the squad. She got hit on the head just before the New Zealand game, but she’s battling through it. She’s a workhorse and continues to give her best,” he concluded.
