Indian women's cricket team skipper Harmanpreet Kaur is working hard in the nets to gain confidence and regain her form after failing to score in double digits in the last four innings (including three T20Is and one Test). In the home season so far, Harmanpreet has yet to score a half-century. Barring the one-off Test against England, she could not make a major impact with the bat. On the eve of the three-T20I series, she said that she had found ways to get out ‘in a weird manner’ a few times.
“I am getting good starts, but somehow I am not being able to convert them into big scores. I feel even luck plays a key role because I got out in a weird manner a couple times.
"It was not that I played bad shots or they bowled well, but those were weird ways of getting out. I am trying my level best to train hard and batting so that it does not look like I am out of form,” she said in the pre-match press conference in Mumbai.
Harmanpreet said that she has been spending more time in the nets to get back to scoring ways.
“This morning, I spent some extra time in the nets to gain more confidence. As a player everyone wants to score crucial runs for the team, that is my focus as well. The next three games are very important. If I can score runs, it will be good for the team,” Kaur added.
Kaur also lauded head coach Amol Muzumdar for helping players overcome challenges in the absence of a mental conditioning coach.
“Our head coach is quite sorted and he brings everyone together. Every player loves communicating with him as he helps them out.
“He is someone who has played a lot of cricket and he has been through a similar phase — that we are in now — in his playing days, so he understands it all," the 34-year-old further added.
Indian players' fielding and fitness have been under the scanner as well. Muzumdar had made it clear before the home season that fielding and fitness is a non-negotiable but the problem has persisted so far. Harmanpreet said that fielding coach Munish Bali has helped the players and the results won't come overnight.
“The best part is that now we have a regular support staff. In between, we had many coaches who had their own views on fielding and fitness.
“We have Munish sir now, he has to be given time. He is a very experienced coach and has worked with many players. He is trying his best but it is difficult to get results in one month,” Kaur said.
The first T20I will be played at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai on January 5.
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