The Indian women's cricket team has recently found itself at the center of a social media storm following a disheartening loss in their opening match of the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 against New Zealand. The match, held on Friday, October 5, at the Dubai International Stadium, resulted in a substantial defeat, with the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side bowled out for just 102 runs while chasing a target of 161. This defeat, by a margin of 58 runs, has placed the Indian team in a precarious position right at the beginning of the tournament, raising serious concerns about their chances of advancing beyond the group stage.
The backlash against the Indian team was particularly intense due to the recent discussions around financial parity in cricket. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made headlines in 2022 by announcing that female cricketers would receive equal match fees to their male counterparts. This monumental decision meant that both male and female players would earn the same amount for their performances—INR 15 lakhs for Test matches, INR 6 lakhs for One Day Internationals (ODIs), and INR 3 lakhs for Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). While this was a significant step toward gender equality in sports, the harsh reality of the team's performance has led to trolling online, with many critics arguing that the players have not lived up to the expectations that come with such financial rewards.
Jay Shah, the secretary of the BCCI, had previously expressed his commitment to ensuring pay equity for women cricketers, thanking the Apex Council for their support in making this change possible. He had tweeted: "The BCCI Women cricketers will be paid the same match fee as their male counterparts. Pay equity was my commitment to our women cricketers and I thank the Apex Council for their support." However, after the Indian women's team fell short against New Zealand—a team that entered the tournament with an unfortunate record of ten consecutive losses—social media users quickly made comparisons between the financial investments in women's cricket and the team's disappointing results.Â
In a timely response to the growing instances of online trolling and bullying, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced a proactive initiative aimed at fostering a more positive and supportive online experience for cricket teams and players. This new social media moderation program, launched just before the commencement of the tournament, signifies the ICC's commitment to protecting athletes and fans alike from the mental health impacts of toxic online behavior. With over 60 players already enrolled in this program and onboarding continuing, the initiative is designed to create a safer digital environment for everyone involved in the sport.
After the match, Jemimah Rodrigues, one of the standout players for India, spoke candidly about the team's need to move forward from the opener against New Zealand. She described the defeat as shocking and emphasized the importance of quickly regrouping to show the resilience and character that the team has demonstrated in the past. "We need to pick ourselves up quickly and show the character that this team has," she said during the post-match press conference. The Indian team is now faced with the challenging task of needing to win against tough opponents like Australia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka if they hope to keep their hopes alive for a spot in the semi-finals.
In terms of the match itself, India's batting lineup struggled right from the start. Tasked with chasing a challenging target of 161 runs, they got off to a rocky beginning, losing Shafali Verma in the second over when she returned a catch to Kiwi left-arm spinner Eden Carson, who performed effectively under pressure. Following her dismissal, Smriti Mandhana, who has been one of the most reliable and consistent performers for the team in recent years, fell victim to a catch in the deep. The situation continued to deteriorate as Harmanpreet Kaur, the team captain, was trapped LBW by a sharp inswinger from seamer Rosemary Mair, who emerged as the star bowler of the match with exceptional figures of 4 wickets for just 19 runs.
As the innings progressed, the asking rate began to climb, and the Indian women struggled to find their footing. New Zealand’s Sophie Devine led her team effectively, maintaining pressure by taking wickets at crucial intervals. The Indian middle order collapsed under the relentless pressure from the New Zealand bowlers, with Lea Tahuhu dismantling the batting lineup further by dismissing Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, and Deepti Sharma. The innings fizzled out, with the team being bowled out for 102 runs, leaving them with one over to spare. This disappointing performance not only marked a tough start for the Indian women in the tournament but also significantly impacted their net run rate due to the considerable margin of defeat, which could prove detrimental in the long run.
The loss against New Zealand highlighted several areas of concern for the Indian women's team, particularly in their batting and mental fortitude. As the tournament progresses, the players will need to reflect on this experience and focus on building their confidence and strategy moving forward. The upcoming matches will be critical for the team, as they seek to reclaim their competitive edge and restore faith among fans and critics alike. With the challenges ahead, the Indian women's team will have to showcase resilience and adaptability if they wish to overcome the obstacles they currently face and make a meaningful impact in the Women's T20 World Cup 2024.
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