India Must Confront Fear of Failure After Another T20 World Cup Exit

 

Image: BCCI Women

Boria Majumdar in London

As the dust settles on India’s defeat and we come to terms with yet another T20 World Cup exit, it is important to keep calm and exercise restraint. No one is hurting more than the players, and it is important that we empathise while still asking the tough questions. While there is no need for an over-the-top reaction, this is the time to take stock and introspect. What went wrong, and why does it keep happening to the women’s team in the T20 format?

The biggest difference between Australia’s approach and India’s was the fear of failure. Australia played without fear, while India appeared scared of losing. That made Australia aggressive and India defensive. Do Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues have the shots? Absolutely. We have seen them play with freedom on numerous occasions. However, Smriti’s desire to play herself in and both batters’ reluctance to attack early suggested they were trying too hard not to fail. Perhaps, in this match, the desperation to avoid failure turned into excessive caution.

It was a 180-190 pitch, yet India failed to press home the advantage even after reaching the end of the powerplay without losing a wicket. It was a safety-first approach, and it backfired. This is where questions must be asked of both the team and the coaching staff. What exactly was the thinking behind not retiring Jemimah out in the 17th over and sending in Richa Ghosh?

Apart from Harmanpreet Kaur, who teed off in the final two overs and pushed India to a competitive total, every other batter looked circumspect. Can Jemimah play attacking shots? Of course she can. But here, she seemed desperate not to get out, and that ultimately proved costly.

Is this approach a consequence of the immense pressure that constantly surrounds the Indian team?

It is time to step back and examine what went wrong and, more importantly, how India can improve. England 2026 is now history. No amount of criticism will take India into the semi-finals retrospectively. Instead, what is needed is a fresh vision for the format – a clear T20 roadmap that defines the team’s approach over the next two years.

India have the resources. The Women’s Premier League is firmly established. There is no reason why this team cannot win a global T20 title. And yet, it never has. That is why it is time to confront the core issue: the fear of failure.

If India’s players can overcome that mental barrier, there is no reason they cannot succeed. Australia played with freedom and won. Australia and South Africa both went all in against India. India did not. In T20 cricket, a safety-first approach rarely works.

Perhaps this is the moment for a fresh start, possibly under a new leader. Is Smriti the right person? Has she done enough in the biggest matches to justify the captaincy? Is it time to experiment with a different approach and begin a new chapter?

Remember 2007. Remember MS Dhoni. This defeat is now history. The future, however, remains in India’s hands.

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