“She was jogging,” ex-India skipper furious with Harmanpreet Kaur’s ‘relaxed’ running
Edulji pointed out that Harmanpreet's bat was in her wrong hand and had she held it in her right hand, she would have been able to stretch to save herself from the run-out.
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Diana Edulji; Harmanpreet Kaur
The Women in Blue under Harmanpreet Kaur faced a narrow five-run defeat in the semi-final match against Australia to end their T20 World Cup campaign. Australia took advantage of India’s poor fielding and bowling; but during India’s batting, Harmanpreet Kaur’s dismissal turned out to be the major turning point of the match. She was brilliantly steering the score toward the target but a throw by Ashleigh Gardner to the keeper ended her knock.
After the match, India did receive lots of support from the Indian cricket fraternity. However, former India skipper Diana Edulji did not mince her words while pointing out India’s mistakes that cost them the defeat.
“She is thinking the bat got stuck but if you see the second run she was jogging. Why are you running in a relaxed manner when you know when your wicket is so important? You have to play professional cricket to win. Look at the dive (Ellyse) Perry made to save those two runs. That is what professionalism is,” Edulji told PTI.
Harmanpreet Kaur said her bat got stuck in the ground when she was on her way to complete the second run. But keeper Alyssa Healy was quick to whip the bails off.
Diana Edulji says India were not ready to fight at all, points out Harmanpreet Kaur’s ‘casual’ second run
Edulji praised Australia for their never-give-up attitude and slammed India for their complacent disposition. She also recalled a piece of advice from the legendary Sunil Gavaskar to point out where Harmanpreet had gone wrong.
“They don’t give up till the end and we are not ready to fight at all. You can’t be falling at the last hurdle all the time. She was casual on the second run. She thought she would comfortably reach. We were told in the 1970s by Mr. Sunil Gavaskar that every ball you have to learn to ground your bat then only you get into that habit,” she added.
Edulji then pointed out that Harmanpreet’s bat was in her wrong hand and had she held it in her right hand, she would have been able to stretch to save herself from the run-out.
In that match, Australia batted first and posted 172/4. Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues‘ knocks did give a glimmer of hope for a win but their dismissals turned the table as the two-time defending champions secured another final berth; and on Sunday, they will lock horns with hosts South Africa in the final.
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Gouri Das
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