Harmanpreet Kaur Critiques Colombo Pitch After World Cup Victory

Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her concerns about the pitch conditions during the Women’s World Cup match against Pakistan, stating it was not conducive for batting. The match, held in Colombo, saw India bowled out for 247 runs, a score that Kaur believed could have been higher given the circumstances.

In a post-match analysis, Kaur noted that recent rain had significantly impacted the pitch’s performance. “To be honest, it wasn’t an easy pitch to bat,” she explained. “When we played here in the tri-series in May 2023, the pitches were different. However, with the rain over the last two days, there was a bit of a hold on the pitch.” The moisture contributed to the ball gripping more than usual, making it challenging for batters to settle in.

Kaur emphasized the strategy her team employed, aiming to conserve wickets for a late-game surge. While Richa Ghosh managed a commendable cameo, other players struggled to build partnerships, resulting in a flurry of wickets falling around her. Kaur added, “The key was to keep wickets in the end so that we could execute.”

The Indian captain also reflected on her team’s fielding performance, acknowledging missed opportunities that allowed Pakistan to score more runs. “We let ourselves down on the field; we got so many chances which we unfortunately dropped. But in the end, when you win, you feel happy,” she stated. Despite the areas needing improvement, Kaur expressed satisfaction with the victory, highlighting the team’s desire to carry this momentum into future matches.

Looking ahead, Kaur noted the advantage of returning to India, where they are familiar with the pitch conditions. “Let’s see what the best combination is that we can come up with and how we can improve day by day,” she said.

On the other side, Fatima Sana, captain of the Pakistan team, acknowledged her side’s shortcomings in the match. She believed that restricting India to under 200 runs could have shifted the game’s momentum in their favor. “In the powerplay, we gave a lot of runs. In the death overs, we also lost some extra runs,” Sana remarked.

Sana highlighted the need for her batting lineup to adapt to the pitch conditions and form long partnerships. “Just need to explore yourself because in batting, we need long partnerships. Have to assess conditions and adapt to it,” she concluded.

As the tournament progresses, both teams will be keen to refine their strategies and capitalize on their experiences in Colombo.