![\"Harmanpreet](\"https:\/\/karunyakeshav.com\/fireburnsblue\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/New-Zealand-v-India-WWC22-Harmanpreet-Kaur-1024x576.jpg\")
But at many times, like on either side of these performances, it\u2019s like none of the things I just said are true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This feels like a team that doesn\u2019t know itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re at a World Cup. They\u2019ve had pretty good preparation playing South Africa, England, Australia and New Zealand in the past year. The team\/administrators\/management have had five years to prepare for this moment. So why are we still watching an experiment? Why does it feel like they don\u2019t know what their best XI, and the order of that XI, is? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two matches in, we\u2019ve had as many opening combinations. Against New Zealand, Yastika Bhatia opened for the first time at international level. At No.3, there\u2019s Deepti Sharma, who was already tried as a top order bat in 2017, and that plan abandoned midway through the World Cup that year after a sorry team performance against South Africa where the batting went nowhere, and then abandoned again in 2019. What has changed for faith to be put in her this time? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At No.4 is not Harman, although that\u2019s statistically her best position. Instead there\u2019s Mithali Raj, consistency personified, but the second anchor in a row (and possibly the third on a bad day for the openers). So Nos. 3, 4, 5 are slow starters, and that\u2019s what India are going with even though they\u2019ve left out other candidates, arguably more in form, for the same supposed reason. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And nobody seems to be convinced about what kind of cricket they want to play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Against New Zealand, three left-handers occupied the top three spots. And New Zealand matched an off-spinner to them with little trouble. \u201cIt gives an advantage to the opposition tactically,\u201d admitted coach Ramesh Powar. The batting coach too said after the game that India would probably relook that strategy. So great, another experiment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
India have accidentally stumbled into a bowling attack that somewhat works \u2026 when it works. Rajeshwari is in form with her left-arm spin, and although they have three off-spin options in Deepti, Sneh and Harman, the first two are fully effective in their 10. Meghna Singh as the second pacer is another experiment, but having begun it in October last year, at least it has some \u2026 erm \u2026 longevity. (Yes, two series; that\u2019s how low the bar is for planning.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The coach speaks about process and plans. He says there\u2019s work that\u2019s been going on. He points out how the team scores 250+ more regularly now. He is happy with their preparation. \u201cIt is the pressure of the World Cup,\u201d he said ahead of the West Indies game. \u201cWe messed up in the first 20 overs.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One-off, he seems to suggest. Except, it isn\u2019t one off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have been handed over a squad of 15, where I have a limitation of three openers,\u201d he said defensively at one point, putting it on the players to perform. Except, it can’t be only on them, when there’s no clarity about positions or place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And that\u2019s the point. India have limitations that have lingered for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The trouble is, as fans, we can disagree with many of these decisions. But anyone can argue for them too, because the alternatives aren\u2019t great either. That\u2019s what comes from building your team two months before a World Cup, at international matches, rather than at the domestic level, without a stepping stone between senior tournaments and playing for India. (No, the Challengers aren\u2019t it.) Little wonder that selections seem ad hoc and rhythm is never really that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The situation India are in is the result of a lack of planning, accountability and structure. Who\u2019s going to fix it before it gets chronic? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
India Women’s troubles at the World Cup are the result of a lack of planning, accountability and structure.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":181,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[16,40],"yoast_head":"\n