Ind vs Zim women – Harmanpreet Kaur keen to ‘enjoy’ post-captaincy phase

Harmanpreet Kaur said she was keen to embrace the current phase of her career with less pressure and more enjoyment after giving up the India captaincy, following her match-winning 41-ball 91 in the third T20I against Zimbabwe in Raipur. She also added she was focused on making the most of her time in the middle.

“I don’t think there is any pressure anymore. I think now it’s all about enjoying myself on the field and I think that’s what I want to do,” Harmanpreet said at the post-match presentation. “I definitely enjoy myself in the middle and this is what I’m here for. I just want to enjoy my batting, and good that those runs came.”

Harmanpreet, 37, stepped down from India captaincy earlier this month with Smriti Mandhana taking over. She had gone eight innings without a half-century before this match. On the day, Harmanpreet walked in at No. 4 in the eighth over and hit just one boundary in the first 12 balls she faced, but then switched gears, taking 20 runs off Kudzai Chigora’s over, which included two fours and two sixes. Harmanpreet said she gained confidence from her first boundary, a drive past extra cover off Loryn Phiri’s delivery, which convinced her that the pitch was good for batting.

“I think the first [second] ball when I hit for a four, that time I realised it’s a good pitch and bat was coming nicely to the ball. I think I got a lot of confidence from that shot, and then I just thought let me just keep going and let’s see how it goes.”

Harmanpreet also said the work put in at the nets had helped her feel more comfortable at the crease without the added pressure of a game situation.

“I think bat swing is something you know which is my key, and I just want to keep repeating that in the nets, and I think again I just want to give credit to my batting coach Himanshu bhaiya who has been working really hard and understood the kind of batting I can do. Every time when we meet, when we spend time in the nets, he just wants me to keep feeling that same pressure in the nets so that when I am playing the match, I should not feel any extra pressure. I think his tactics and his thoughts work really well.”

Mandhana on India’s bowling options – ‘The more the merrier’

India captain Mandhana meanwhile said she was pleased with India’s decision to rotate the batting order, adding that the middle order benefited from time in the middle. Mandhana had said at the toss that she opted to bat first for the same reason, and she also did not come out to bat on the day with Anushka Sharma opening with Shafali Verma.

“In the first match we could not get going again – top order as well – then in the second match the [middle order] did not get a opportunity to bat so it was it’s always good to have some game time and always good to have some runs behind your back,” Mandhana said.

Mandhana was also encouraged by the depth of India’s bowling options, with Niki Prasad and Shafali among those given opportunities to bowl, adding that having more options would help India prepare for the conditions ahead of the Champions Trophy. The inaugural Champions Trophy will be a six-team T20I competition to be played in February next year. India will play hosts with matches to be played in Mumbai and Vadodara.

“It [bowling options] is it is looking good for sure. We were all looking in a way where dew is playing its part again. We’re going to have the next three months going ahead there’s going to be a lot of dew till we approach the Champions Trophy so the kind of combination we need and the bowlers – the more the merrier. I’m really happy and pleased with the way Niki, Shafali, everyone chipped in”

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