Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Harmanpreet rues the trend of mistakes in the big final, as India settle for silver at CWG

“We don’t do these mistakes in the league phase or in bilateral.

Harmanpreet rues the trend of mistakes in the big final, as India settle for silver at CWG

Heartbroken after a gold medal slipped out of their hands, India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur harped on the need to stop repeating the same mistakes in 'title clashes', saying the "mental block" has to be broken, going forward.

The Indian team came to close winning coveted gold on women's cricket's CWG debut but fell short by nine runs after being in a dominant position against mighty Australia.


It was deja vu for Harmanpreet and Co. who had suffered a similar inexplicable batting collapse during the T20 World Cup finals defeat against Australia in 2020 and the 2017 ODI World Cup final in England.

"Every time in big finals, we make the same mistakes again and again (with the bat), that is something we have to improve," Harmanpreet said after the match on Sunday.

"We don't do these mistakes in the league phase or in bilateral. That is blocking our mind somewhere," the skipper added

With 50 needed off the last six overs with eight wickets in hand, India seemed to be on course to title triumph but lost the last five wickets for 13 runs owing to some poor shot selections

Harmanpreet and Jemimah Rodrigues strung a 96-run partnership but both ended up playing some poor shots to make their way back to the dugout

"I am someone who is always looking for one more batter in the side. Unfortunately, we're working on that. Once we get that, this thing [collapsing] will go away."

"After losing two crucial wickets, the way Jemi (Jemimah Rodrigues) and I batted was much needed at that time. You need to hold your nerves. We were nearly there."

"Maybe if Pooja (Vastrakar) or I were around, we could've won the game. But that is part of the game; sometimes some things you can't control. It is great learning for us," she added

Although India ended on the losing side in the summit clash, Harmanpreet is "happy and satisfied" with her side's CWG campaign

"I know we were close to winning gold, but all around our performance was great. This is the first time we got to play in this tournament and we're happy to have won a silver medal

"A medal is something people back home will get inspired from and they could start playing cricket. As a team, we want to inspire young girls. Doing well on this platform will motivate a lot of people back home."

All-rounder Tahlia McGrath was a part of the Australian playing XI despite testing positive for COVID-19

"They informed us before the toss. That was something not in our control. The CWG had to take a decision and we were okay with it since she wasn't very ill, so we decided to play. We had to show sportsman spirit.

"I'm happy we didn't say no to Tahlia, it (missing the final) would've been very hard-hitting for her."

India put up a spirited fielding display that helped them restrict Australia 161 for 8

"If you want to beat this Australian team, you have to field well. If you give them easy runs, they can easily take the game away. We discussed it in the team meeting and Radha (Yadav) set the example for us

"The effort we put up today is something we wanted to do. I know the last 2-3 overs [in the chase] were not in our favour but throughout the game, the way we played was outstanding to watch."

"We've been working on our fielding for a long time. I'm happy with the way we fielded today. That is something we wanted to do as a team," Harmanpreet said.

More For You

Waste tyres from UK fuel dangerous 'cooking' plants in India: report

Tyres are heated to around 500°C in oxygen-free environments, extracting steel, oil, and carbon black in rural Indian facilities. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images)

Waste tyres from UK fuel dangerous 'cooking' plants in India: report

MILLIONS of waste tyres from the UK are being shipped to India and processed in makeshift, unregulated furnaces, causing serious environmental damage and health risks to local communities, a BBC investigation has revealed.

The UK produces around 50 million waste tyres annually, with approximately half exported to India under the guise of recycling. However, investigations show that up to 70 per cent of these tyres end up in primitive industrial plants where they undergo a dangerous process called pyrolysis.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said, 'What we’re going to be doing is a 25 per cent tariff on all cars that are not made in the US.' (Photo: Getty Images)

Trump imposes 25 per cent tariffs on foreign-built cars

US president Donald Trump has announced a 25 per cent tariff on imported cars and auto parts, escalating trade tensions with key partners.

The new duties take effect on 3 April and apply to foreign-made cars and light trucks, with additional levies on key auto parts set to follow within the month.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer-Trump-Getty

The UK is negotiating a tech-focused trade deal with the US, which could help avoid direct tariff impacts.

Getty Images

UK economy faces pressure from Trump’s tariff threats

THE UK’s economy faces a major risk from US president Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs, the country’s fiscal watchdog warned on Wednesday, citing slow growth and a high debt burden as key vulnerabilities.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced cuts to the welfare budget and other spending reductions to meet a key fiscal target aimed at reassuring investors after the 2022 market turmoil under former prime minister Liz Truss.

Keep ReadingShow less
reeves-spring-statement

To prevent a budget deficit, Reeves has announced cuts to disability welfare payments and reductions in government departmental budgets, citing global economic uncertainty.

Government cuts growth forecast, announces public spending cuts

THE UK government reduced its 2025 growth forecast by half on Wednesday and announced spending cuts to manage public finances amid economic challenges.

The Spring Statement update comes as the Labour government, which won a landslide election in July, faces slow economic growth and rising borrowing costs.

Keep ReadingShow less
Slough Council writes off £382,000 in unpaid business rates

Two companies that owed the money had dissolved, while a third – which owed the largest amount – had gone into liquidation.

CRM

Slough Council writes off £382,000 in unpaid business rates

Nick Clark

AN ‘eyewatering’ £382,000 in unpaid business rates has been written off by Slough Borough Council with the agreement of council leaders – with one branding the sum ‘frightening’.

Leading councillors voted to approve the write off last Monday (17), after all attempts to collect the debt – owed by just three companies – had been ‘exhausted’. Councillor Wal Chahal, responsible for finance, said: “It’s an eyewatering number to be writing off, it’s just frightening.

Keep ReadingShow less