While they had pulled up their socks in the fielding department to complement the bowlers, it was the batting that was a disappointment as India lost the second T20I to West Indies in Vijayawada. Electing to field, Harmanpreet Kaur-led team held West Indies to 137 for five. Reflecting on the performance, she said, “Actually, when we chose fielding our target was to restrict them 120-130 odd runs itself. Our fielding and bowling better today (than the first game).”
There were no big hits or easy boundaries for Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin who have been gleaning runs off the Indian attack so far. Discussing the strategy for the two West Indies batters, she said, “Today, the plan was we will have a straight infield (fielders will be positioned straighter). We had analysed that most of the boundaries came in the mid on, mid-off, midwicket, extra cover region, so we had worked out our plan accordingly. We were trying to make them play in that region only.”
India had made changes to their bowling strategy as well. They opened the bowling with Anuja Patil (off spinner) and Jhulan Goswami and held back pacer Shikha Pandey who had conceded runs upfront in the previous match. Explaining the move, she said, “Anuja did well in Australia and the World T20 so we opened with her. Their opening batters are good against the medium pacers because they use the pace. I had kept Jhulan from one end, so that we can utilise her experience for the first six overs while Anjua has the experience of bowling with the new ball in the domestic as well as the international level. They did well but it would have been better if we would have got couple of wickets.
“The West Indies could build partnerships, which was missing in out in our batting. If we too had built those partnerships, we would have been able to chase,” she added while reflecting on the batting.
After the mainstay of the line-up, Veda Krishanmurthy departed for five, the rest of the line-up crumbled. Analysing the collapse, the captain said, “Actually the reason behind it is also is that the top-order was only doing batting in the ODIs. This was the first match where everyone had to come in to bat. Since it was the first match for them, I can’t judge them on that. Also, we have different teams for T20Os and ODIs. This was only the second T20I for some.
Speaking about her advice to the batters as she anchored the chase, Harmanpreet said, “When they came in to bat, I told them to give me the strike because they were new and I can’t tell them go for a big shot. I just told them to go for the singles and I will keep the strike and play the bigger role (take responsibility) for the team. But then they chose bad shots. It was a very good batting track, you needed to play straight shots. In this situation, I can't help them, I can only guide. They also have to analyse what they can do better for the team.”
In the absence of Mithali Raj and Veda Krishnamurthy’s early departure, the lower-order had come in to play. Shikha Pandey was promoted up the order to support the skipper. Asked about the crucial role, the lower-order has to play in T20 and their preparation for it, she said, “Of course we have a lot of all-rounders in our team. That is why we chose them for the T20 format. (Even) if you do well in the bowling department, you have to take the pressure (responsibility) in the batting department also. I was telling them to give strike but I felt that the approach was a little casual. I will talk to them and I hope we will do better in the next match.”
Discussing the batting collapse, she further added, “Veda has been in good form so that was one hope and Smriti (Mandhana) too. She is a good batswoman, she has scored well during the (domestic) season so the start that she can give – the 30 – 40 runs upfront, but we missed that. Then Veda we thought would be able to get off to a start but that also we missed. I was hoping that in the last 8-10 overs, I would go in and start (hitting) but what happened was that wickets were falling and I wasn’t getting the opportunity to take those calculated risks. If there is a 10-15 runs partnership, then one can take the calculated risk but that partnership wasn’t happening. Since the wickets were falling quickly, I couldn't up the ante.”
Asked if the batting order was unsettled one as with changes in the team and line-up like Deepti Sharma coming at No 3 or sometimes opening or sitting out, Harmanpreet, said, “No. If you see someone like Deepti can be used in the first six overs as she is good against the pacers. With spinners, she works on taking singles and twos and (so to) keep Veda for towards the end (we changed the order). When you are chasing, there is some pressure if a wicket falls then your all-rounders can’t be depended on completely. So, it was (decided) that if we are chasing, then we will bring Deepti in first, (and) Veda can go in late, which is better. She is a free-flowing batswoman. She has to be given the freedom to play, so we had played her a little lower (at No 4) so that she can play her natural game. But then in cricket, it is a matter of just one ball for the batter and today it didn’t go her way.”
Asked if they missed the experience of Mithali she said, “Yes. The non-striker gets confidence just watching her bat at the other end. She bats with ease and watching her gives you a lot of confidence. You've seen how it happens in the opening also. Smriti has experience but both the girls (VR Vanitha and S Meghana) who have opened with her are not as experienced. They are still learning things like if there are a couple of boundaries in an over then you take singles and wait for the next over. They are learning and I am happy with the way they batted.”
