India women's cricket team head coach Anmol Mazumdar has revealed that skipper Harmanpreet Kaur will continue to bat at the number 3 position during the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup 2024. This decision comes as the team looks to solidify a spot that has seen multiple players shuffled in recent times, with the hope that Harmanpreet can bring stability and consistency to the top order.
Historically, Jemimah Rodrigues has been India's preferred choice at number 3, but with her move down the order to number 4 and 5, the team has experimented with various players in this crucial position. Yastika Bhatia, who was seen as a frontrunner for the role, had to miss the Bangladesh tour due to injury, though she is back in the T20 World Cup squad. However, it seems that Bhatia will have to wait for her opportunity, as the team has chosen to promote Harmanpreet to this position. Other players who have been tested at number 3 include Dayalan Hemalatha, Sajeevan Sajana, and Uma Chetry, but none have managed to cement their place.
Coach Mazumdar explained that the decision to move Harmanpreet up the order wasn't a last-minute call, but rather a strategy that was developed during the pre-tournament camp in India. Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, he said, "Absolutely, Harmanpreet will bat at number three. This decision was made well before the warm-up games, during our camp in Bangalore. The pre-World Cup matches only solidified this plan for us."
In the warm-up games leading up to the World Cup, Harmanpreet scored 1 and 10 while batting at number 3. Despite these low scores, the team remains confident in her ability to thrive in this role. The move is designed to allow Harmanpreet to capitalize on the solid starts often provided by openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, and to stabilize the innings in case of an early breakthrough. By giving her more time to settle at the crease, the Indian think-tank believes that Harmanpreet can unlock her power game and make a bigger impact on the match.
Harmanpreet's recent statistics suggest that the move is a logical one. Her strike rate while batting lower down the order has been a concern, with a poor 94.09 strike rate in 84 T20I innings since 2022. Typically batting at number 4 or 5, she has often been forced into a reactive role, trying to catch up rather than dictating the pace of the innings. By moving her up to number 3, the team hopes to give her more opportunities to control the game and utilize her power hitting in the middle overs, something that has been missing in recent performances.
As India gears up for the Women's T20 World Cup 2024, the decision to promote Harmanpreet Kaur to number 3 will be key to their strategy. Her ability to stabilize the innings and play a more dominant role could be the difference in crucial matches, and India will be hoping that their skipper rises to the challenge. With Mazumdar backing the decision, all eyes will be on Harmanpreet as she looks to make the number 3 position her own and lead her team to World Cup glory.
