NEW CHANDIGARH: A recent decision by the Indian men’s cricket team to forgo handshakes with Pakistan players during their Asia Cup encounter sparked widespread debate. When questioned about whether the Indian women’s team would adopt a similar stance for their much-anticipated 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup clash against Pakistan in Colombo on October 5, star all-rounder Deepti Sharma remained unfazed. She stated, “That match is quite a way off. I haven’t given it much thought. When the time comes for that particular game, we’ll decide our approach. For now, my focus isn’t on the Asia Cup, but rather on our current series.”
Deepti Sharma (AFP Photo)
Still reeling from a humbling eight-wicket defeat against a formidable Australian side in the opening Women’s ODI on Sunday, the Indian team is now desperately seeking a dramatic turnaround. They aim to secure a crucial victory in the second match at PCA Mullanpur Stadium on Wednesday to draw level in the series. Suffering another loss would not only mean a series defeat but also a significant blow to their morale. This is particularly concerning given their recent successful tour of England, which had built considerable confidence just weeks before the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup.
To finally break their long-standing drought for an ICC trophy, India needs to overcome their challenges against Australia. Deepti Sharma, India’s ace all-rounder, reflected on Tuesday, “It’s not as if there’s a huge gap between our team and theirs. Even the emerging teams are performing exceptionally well. Victory and defeat are inherent parts of the game, and whenever we step onto the field, our sole objective is to win.”
For Harmanpreet Kaur and her team to even stand a chance of breaking their current losing streak against Alyssa Healy’s squad, a dramatic improvement in both their bowling and fielding is essential for the second match. Crucially, India needs to recapture the electric fielding performance seen during their England tour, where they dazzled with incredible catches and sharp run-outs. Regrettably, on Sunday night, their dismal fielding, marred by four dropped catches, proved to be their downfall.
When questioned about potential difficulties with fielding under the floodlights at this newly debuted international venue, Deepti asserted, “No, we didn’t encounter any such issues. Our unit has demonstrated strong fielding across our recent series. Every team has an off day, and we don’t dwell on those mistakes. We’re focusing on the positives from the first match – the areas where we performed well – and intend to build on those strengths in the second ODI.”
Elaborating on these ‘positives,’ Deepti highlighted, “The effective batting partnerships we forged and the small, crucial aspects of our game that clicked in the first ODI are what we’ll be carrying forward.”
However, India appeared to have made a tactical misstep by deploying four spinners on a pitch that offered minimal assistance to slow bowlers. Adding to the team’s woes was a disappointing performance from Deepti herself, who, despite being the most experienced bowler, failed to take a wicket and conceded 59 runs in her ten overs.
When asked if the night dew affected India’s spinners, Deepti acknowledged its presence but downplayed its impact. “While there was dew, we can’t definitively say it was a major factor. Sometimes, as a bowler, despite giving your absolute best, things just don’t go your way. The key is to learn and improve for the next outing. My focus isn’t on individual wickets at a particular moment, but rather on the overall objective of taking wickets. I am optimistic that my performance in that regard will be visible in the upcoming matches,” she explained.
With the ODI World Cup rapidly approaching, it’s crucial for India to provide match practice to their experienced pacer, Renuka Singh Thakur, who has been absent from international play for nine months. Thakur’s presence in the nets during the first Women’s ODI suggests she might finally make her return on Wednesday. Deepti confirmed, “She’s fit.”