India’s women’s cricket team is leaving no stone unturned in their preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Head coach Amol Muzumdar, who took charge nine months ago, has made it clear that fitness and fielding are non-negotiable. The team has dedicated countless hours at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, honing these key areas. This focus stems from their Asia Cup final loss to Sri Lanka in July, which prompted the team management to identify and address specific weaknesses.
“We did identify a few things and we went about it in the subsequent camps which followed the Asia Cup. We had a fitness camp which happened at the NCA. Fitness and fielding camps were specifically done for those two areas, where the skills weren’t touched,” Muzumdar explained on Tuesday, just before the team departed for the UAE.
In addition to intense physical training, the team has incorporated yoga and individual sessions with sports psychologist Dr. Mugdha Bavare. This proactive approach to mental well-being aims to bolster the team’s mental strength.
“After the Asia Cup finals, we sat together as a team and we identified a few things. So, when we had a camp dedicated to fitness and fielding, where we did not touch the skills, we tried to introduce the psychologist. And that’s an area where we would like to tap into,” Muzumdar revealed.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who has worked with Bavare previously, emphasized the importance of individual and collective mental well-being.
“When you talk personally, you know what you are talking about and the areas you want to focus on. But when it comes to the team, it is important that everyone opens up so that we can work together and help the player as needed. We had a few sessions where we talked to each other about how we were feeling and how we wanted to go about it,” she said. “With her (Bavare) help, there were a lot of sessions after which we felt well and then after executing it on the ground, we felt even better. She’s really working hard and helping us…”
While recent performances have been a mixed bag, including a home series loss to Australia and a drawn T20I series against South Africa, Muzumdar remains confident about the team’s game readiness.
“If you ask for game time, we have ticked that box. And, we played some very competitive games. There were different oppositions, there were different skill sets that were chosen for those particular games. So as far as game time is concerned, I think we are on it,” he asserted.
The shift of the tournament to the UAE from Bangladesh, due to unforeseen circumstances, doesn’t seem to be a major concern for the team.
“It came as a surprise for everyone. We had specifically gone to Bangladesh in May and played 5 T20Is to get used to conditions. But things have changed and it has shifted to Dubai. I think conditions would be similar to what we are over here in India,” Muzumdar said. “But I think just at the start of the season, what my experience was in the IPL in 2020, there will be a little bit of bounce on the surfaces in Dubai especially. But rest over the conditions, they remain the same, just like India…”
While defending champions Australia pose a formidable challenge, India is ready to rise to the occasion.
“Look, their team is good, no doubt about that. And we also know one thing that India is one of the teams, which can go really hard on them,” Harmanpreet stated. “That is a really positive sign. We know that whenever we are playing against them and if we play our best cricket, we can beat them any day and any time. And I think they’ve been winning the title for so many years. And it’s a great opportunity for us when a team who has been dominating cricket for so many years. They know that this is the one team which is really good and they can beat us. I think that that is the positive,” the captain added. “We just want to play good cricket and be in that frame…”
India’s journey begins on October 4 against New Zealand, followed by a clash with Pakistan three days later. The highly anticipated showdown against Australia is scheduled for October 13 in Sharjah.
