India Women's journey in the 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup has come to an unfortunate end, as they officially exited the tournament after securing two wins and two losses. In a competitive group stage, India managed victories against Pakistan and Sri Lanka but faltered in their crucial encounters against New Zealand and Australia. With a total of 4 points and a Net Run Rate (NRR) of 0.322, their campaign fell short of qualifying for the knockout rounds. Harmanpreet Kaur stood out with the bat, amassing 150 runs, while Arundhati Reddy and Renuka Singh made their mark with the ball, finishing as India’s top wicket-takers.

Despite the early exit, the team showcased moments of brilliance, particularly in their emphatic wins against their Asian rivals. Harmanpreet Kaur's consistent form and leadership were pivotal, providing stability at crucial stages. However, the losses to stronger sides like Australia and New Zealand exposed gaps in India's overall performance, especially in handling pressure situations. As the team reflects on their campaign, they will undoubtedly look to build on their strengths and address their weaknesses for future tournaments.

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India Women's Powerplay Struggles in the T20 World Cup

India Women’s performance in the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup's powerplay was marked by inconsistency. In the first three overs, they started well, losing just 1 wicket with a strong average of 66. However, as the powerplay progressed into overs 4-6, their form drastically declined. They lost 5 wickets during this period, and their average dropped to 13.6. This sharp contrast in performance between the early and later part of the powerplay reveals that while India’s opening batters managed to provide stability, the middle order crumbled under pressure.

In comparison, Australia Women faced early setbacks but handled them with far greater composure. Losing 4 wickets in the first three overs, Australia still managed a decent average of 17.5, reflecting their attacking approach. What stands out is their ability to recover, losing only 3 wickets between overs 4-6 while improving their average to 22.67. Australia's approach of stabilizing after a shaky start allowed them to maintain momentum throughout the powerplay, something that India struggled to achieve.

South Africa Women, on the other hand, displayed remarkable consistency across both phases of the powerplay. They lost just 1 wicket in each phase while maintaining exceptional averages of 87 in the first three overs and 80 in the last three. This steady and cautious approach provided South Africa with a solid foundation, enabling them to build competitive totals without risking early collapses. India’s inability to replicate such consistency, especially in the later part of the powerplay, was a key factor in their underperformance.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka Women shared a similar struggle to India. Pakistan lost 2 wickets early on with an average of 19.5 but faced significant issues in overs 4-6, where they lost 8 wickets and their average plummeted to just 5.75. Sri Lanka, too, had a rough start, losing 5 wickets in the first three overs with an average of 7.8, though they managed a slight improvement in the latter part of the powerplay. These teams, much like India, found it difficult to maintain stability throughout the powerplay, making it harder to build competitive scores.

In summary, India's powerplay performance was hampered by a lack of consistency, particularly in the middle overs. Teams like Australia and South Africa showcased the importance of steady play and recovery, especially after early losses, while India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka found themselves unable to preserve their wickets, leading to collapses that ultimately impacted their campaigns. India's middle-order struggles during the powerplay, particularly in overs 4-6, were a significant factor in their early exit from the tournament.

See Also: How did Harmanpreet Kaur dominate the grand stage ?