India’s women’s cricket team emerged victorious against Pakistan in their T20 World Cup group stage encounter, but a slow scoring rate during the chase has raised concerns about their Net Run Rate. This could potentially pose a challenge for India’s qualification to the knockout stages, especially if multiple teams finish with the same number of points.
Addressing the issue, Indian pacer Arundhati Reddy acknowledged the importance of the Net Run Rate, stating, “We understand that the Net Run Rate is important but also winning the game is all the more important for us. The wicket today was playing a little slower so obviously the batters could not (accelerate at will). The main thing was to finish the game but we’ve discussed NRR and will look to improve it in the coming games.”
The Indian side received overwhelming support from the nearly 16,000 fans present, feeding off the positive energy from the crowd. “Lovely crowd today. A lot of Indians are supporting us. Just felt a very good vibe getting into the ground today. A lot of Indians were cheering for us and we hope they keep showing up for us,” added Reddy.
Reddy delivered a stellar performance, registering career-best T20I bowling figures of 3/19, contributing significantly to India’s pursuit of a maiden title victory. However, the team’s fielding displayed some lapses, with Asha Sobhana dropping two catches off Reddy’s bowling. “We’ve been working hard on fielding. I knew there were a few lapses but as long as the team wins, we’re happy. It’s a work in progress and I’m sure we’ll get there soon,” Reddy commented on the dropped catches.
Asked about her aggressive celebrations during the game, Reddy explained, “There’s nothing much I can do about it. You just move on because there’s no point staying there. It just harms you and nobody else. You feel bad about it but there’s not much you can do. You just want to focus on the next ball, which is what I did today.”
Reddy has been increasingly utilized across different phases of the game, having transitioned from a middle-overs specialist to a more versatile bowler. She expressed her eagerness to take on more responsibilities, stating, “I look forward to being that bowler who can bowl in all phases. I’m confident enough that I can deliver for the team when it’s required.”
With her impressive performance and unwavering confidence, Arundhati Reddy has emerged as a crucial asset for India’s T20 World Cup campaign. The team will be looking to address their fielding concerns and improve their Net Run Rate in the upcoming matches, aiming for a successful tournament run.
