Sad result – why did India miss the final?

For the Indian women’s cricket team, their journey to the semifinal of this year’s T20 World Cup felt like more than just a five-run defeat. Harmanpreet Kaur and her side bravely weathered each surprise thrown at them, refusing to stay down in face of every obstacle. For fans of their underdog story, today was extra bittersweet as captain Harmanpreet put forward her best effort yet, only to be met with an unfortunate finish. It may be recorded in history as one lost by a five-run margin–but it deserves to be remembered as much more than just that.

Joining her team on their visit to South Africa in preparation for the World Cup, star player Harmanpreet Kaur arrived only to suffer from a series of ailments. In a show of support and care, her team-mate Jemimah Rodrigues expressed her feelings of concern for Kaur’s health and well-being. Determined not to let bad fortune derail her tournaments plans, Kaur persevered playing every match in the group stage notwithstanding her physical condition. Unfortunately, she was unable to make the kind of runs she was known for, but everyone remained optimistic that the best version of Kaur was still waiting to be seen during the most important matches. It was this spirit that would help carry India through one of their most successful World Cup campaigns yet.

Harmanpreet had been feeling unwell all week; on Wednesday, her fever had hit a new high and it was clear she needed medical attention. After a quick visit to the doctor, Harmanpreet was relieved to find out that she’d only caught a common cold, though the temperature fluctuations of South Africa continued to take their toll. She managed the symptoms with some paracetamol, though she admits it can be difficult to keep her body from adjusting when the climate is ever-changing. Harmanpreet was thankful for the support of those around her which allowed her to take care of herself so quickly.

There was a sense of anticipation in the air before the big game-no one knew if their captain, Harmanpreet, would be able to lead the Indian team. Just an hour before play, her teammates found out when she called them into a huddle and made it clear that she was ready for the challenge. Led by her strength and determination, the team felt empowered and enthusiastic about the game ahead. Even though no one in the team knew just how serious her injury was, they had confidence that as long as she was leading them there was nothing they couldn’t do. Sure enough when Harmanpreet took to the field it only took two deliveries for India to win the match!

The confidence and poise shown by Rodrigues and Harmanpreet during their 69-run partnership seemed to have India in the driver’s seat of their match against Australia. The pair had been scoring runs at a rate of more than 10 runs per over, leaving the Australians under pressure. However, within a matter of seconds, Rodrigues’ attempt to ramp Darcie Brown resulted in her being caught behind and the pendulum swung drastically in Australia’s favour. Harmanpreet suffered an even unluckier fate, her bat getting stuck in the ground as she attempted to complete a second run leading to her dismissal. As a result of these two unlucky turn of events, India’s chase started crumbling and after Harmanpreet walked off, flinging her bat on to the turf in frustration, it was all but clear that they were going to leave empty handed.

After Harmanpreet Rodrigues’ dramatic exit in the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup, she admitted that when she left the field all she wanted to do was cry. Her dismissal shifted the momentum of the match, denying India the chance to take it “till the end”. In her own words, Rodrigues felt it was a distinct turning point. Even with a run-rate of 1.25 for only 40 runs left to win, after Harmanpreet’s departure there was an undeniable sense of having lost something precious. She still had hope amidst her sadness that this tournament will someday lead to better days ahead and a brighter future for Indian cricket as a whole.

Rodrigues’ words show how highly she regards Harmanpreet. It is a hard thing to come out and perform, especially in such an incredible situation, but Harmanpreet handled it skillfully. Despite the loss, her passion and determination were still evident even to the end of the innings when Deepti had India just shy of victory. Even at the post-match presentation, Harmanpreet maintained that sense of strength despite being overwhelmed by emotion– wearing sunglasses to hide from media attention. Rodrigues’ response to her own emotions showed just what a sincere emotional toll this match would have taken on her teammates– as all she wanted was to break down and cry upon returning to the hotel.

After the WPL game, Rodrigues stated it was too soon for her to process her thoughts and emotions. Despite the defeat, Rodrigues displayed immense compassions by stating that she wants every member of the squad to know how deeply this loss affects them. She conveyed an optimistic outlook for the future by saying that even tough losses can be utilized as a learning experience. It is safe to say that all of us would like nothing more than to see Rodrigues get back on the field with enthusiasm and faith.

India finished the 2019 Cricket World Cup with a heart-breaking loss in the semi-final to New Zealand, leaving them wounded and hungry for more. For a country so deeply entrenched in their rich cricketing culture, it was difficult for Indian fans to accept that their dream of winning the World Cup would have to wait again. Even though it may seem discouraging in the immediate, India have taken away plenty of positives from this year’s outing. They now possess an immensely talented squad, full of young players eager to prove themselves on the biggest stage. In addition, they could count on immense support due to the onset of IPL and its consequent success over the years as Indians across all generations identified with familiarity. India can march forward in confidence knowing they are well-equipped with both resources and momentum heading into another World Cup cycle in 2023.