Published By: Sayan Guha

ICC World T20: India's Fightback After a Stumble: Lessons From New Zealand Loss to Pakistan Triumph Ahead of Sri Lanka Battle

What India got right against Pakistan after faltering against New Zealand, and the next steps to outplay Sri Lanka in the Women's T20 World Cup

Cricket is all about comebacks, and Team India knows this better than anyone. After a shaky start against New Zealand in their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup opener, where they fell short by 58 runs, India turned things around with a decisive win over PAK by 6 wickets.

Now, with one win and one loss in their group, India faces another test against Sri Lanka in their next match on 9th October 2024 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The stakes are high, and India’s recent bounce-back has set the stage for what could be a critical clash in Group A.

From New Zealand’s pace to PAK’s patience

Handling pace under pressure:

In the New Zealand game (160/4), the Indian batting order crumbled like a house of cards under a relentless pace attack. Rosemary Mair’s 4-19 and Lea Tahuhu’s 3-15 were too much to handle as India folded for just 102 runs. But against PAK, the Indian batters showed more grit and patience. Despite Fatima Sana’s (2/23) clever use of spin, the openers — particularly Shafali Verma (32) — took their time to settle in before launching an attack. This change in approach, taking the chase deep, made all the difference (108/4).

Bowling with precision:

Against New Zealand, India’s bowlers struggled to contain Sophie Devine, who hammered 57* off 36 balls. But the game against PAK saw the Indian bowling unit, led by Arundhati Reddy, turn things around. Reddy’s 3-19 and Shreyanka Patil’s 2-12 restricted PAK to a modest 105. The seamers found their rhythm, and Reddy’s consistent line and length troubled the PAK batters, paving the way for India’s six-wicket victory. It’s this focus on precision that India must carry into the Sri Lanka match.

The tactical tweaks India must make against Sri Lanka

Fielding and catching must be spot on:

While India’s bowling clicked against PAK, their fielding left much to be desired. Dropped catches and missed run-out chances allowed PAK to add crucial runs, which can’t be repeated against a Sri Lankan side coming off a historic Asia Cup win. Players like Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama will punish any lapses in the field. India’s fielders need to tighten up, particularly in pressure moments, to avoid letting the game slip away.

Balance the batting line-up:

India’s top-order batting failed in the powerplay against New Zealand and wasn’t much better against PAK. Smriti Mandhana’s out-of-form was felt, and with Pooja Vastrakar sidelined, India’s middle order looked fragile. Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues will need to step up and take responsibility in the upcoming game. They can’t rely solely on Shafali’s explosive starts; rotating the strike and finding gaps will be vital to building a steady platform for a challenging total.

Focus on Sri Lanka: Learning from their Asia Cup glory

India’s next challenge is none other than Sri Lanka, the same team that stunned them in the Asia Cup final earlier this year. Chamari Athapaththu remains the lynchpin of their side, but Sri Lanka has proven they are far from a one-woman show. With their all-round performances, players like Samarawickrama and Dilhari have transformed Sri Lanka into a formidable unit.

Despite losses in their opening matches of the World Cup—falling to Pakistan by 31 runs and Australia by six wickets—Sri Lanka remains a threat. India’s bowlers will need to dig deep to break through Sri Lanka’s middle order, which has the potential to chase down big totals and turn the tide at crucial moments.