Smriti, Shafali, Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma have been scoring the bulk of India’s runs, and they need to take that form into the next matches. India must be banking on Shree Charani, the newly-crowned No. 1 bowler in T20Is, to continue her marvellous work. File
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They have been here before.
Back to the wall. Must win game. Followed by must-win game. Again.
The Women in Blue showed they could do that in some style at the ODI World Cup at home just seven months ago. From the brink of elimination, they went all the way to be the greatest triumph in the history of Indian women’s cricket.
That was one great comeback.
It is time for another one. At the T20 World Cup.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s women will take the field against Bangladesh at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Thursday, knowing that they have to deliver. Something they failed to do in their last match, against South Africa, despite promising with both bat and ball.
India had the Proteas struggling at 25 for two after the PowerPlay, and the dangerous captain Laura Wolvaardt was back in the dressing room. To be fair, the bowlers hadn’t got enough runs to defend, but another wicket or two, and not dropping catches, could have put the South Africans under pressure.
Earlier, when India batted, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma had given their team another rousing start. The middle-order, however, didn’t rise to the occasion, yet again.
Of course, India had to deal with an inspired all-round performance by the gritty Marizanne Kapp, who guided her team to victory with what she later described as her best T20 innings. India needs such a spirited show from its own players or two against Bangladesh.
This Indian team, of course, looks too strong for Bangladesh, and this match may not pose as much of a challenge as the one after (against Australia). But, given the situation they are in, the Indians have to be at their best, even though they apparently have not yet been able to identify their best eleven.
India needs more from Harmanpreet and Jemimah Rodrigues, who each have in their CV an all-time ODI great innings. Neither has looked fluent enough, though.
Smriti, Shafali, Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma have been scoring the bulk of India’s runs, and they need to take that form into the next matches. India must be banking on Shree Charani, the newly-crowned No. 1 bowler in T20Is, to continue her marvellous work.
The Bangladesh women will have to be particularly wary of her. They go into the match, no doubt buoyed by their win against Pakistan. And they are not under as much pressure as their rivals.
Published – June 24, 2026 09:28 pm IST
