No need to panic as Harmanpreet urges India to stay together

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur is not concerned by her side's indifferent form in the shortest format as they continue their preparations for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup.

India lost their second consecutive T20I contest and third of the calendar year when they were defeated by South Africa by eight wickets in Durban on Sunday to fall behind 2-0 against the Proteas in the five-match series less than two months out from the start of the T20 World Cup.

While Harmanpreet admitted her side was not playing their best cricket currently, the experienced skipper believes there is plenty of time to turn that around prior to the T20 World Cup and has urged her teammates to stay the course as they finalise their preparations for the 20-over showcase in England in Wales that commences on June 12.

“Tough time. We as a team need to stay together,” Harmanpreet said at the post-match presentation in Durban after the loss to South Africa.

“Hopefully, we’ll go (to Johannesburg for the third match of the series with South Africa) with a positive approach. T20 format is like that: it’s about staying together.”

Attacking opener Shafali Verma (57) gave India a fast start at Kingsmead with a brisk half-century, but wickets continued to fall in the backend of the innings as the Asian side were dismissed for just 147 after they lost the toss and sent into bat first.

The victory target of 148 was easily chased by the hosts, with skipper Laura Wolvaardt (54) and Sune Luus (57) putting on 106 for the first wicket in reply to ensure the Proteas cruised home.

India also failed to hold on to a host of chances in the field and Harmanpreet knows her side must improve quickly to keep the series alive against South Africa.

“I think with bat, we were not able to contribute the way we wanted. Last 10 overs of the innings we did not bat well. We need to think how we go about next three matches. When you’re not getting the shots, rotating strike is a key point. We were discussing... we can rotate strike and it can help us through that time. But it’s a time when things didn’t work.

“Powerplay, while bowling, is not going our way.”

Shafali echoed the sentiments of her captain and thinks India can turn around their form quickly during the remainder of the South Africa series and at the T20 World Cup.

"We all know our strengths," Shafali noted.

"We will just come back hard and we will just stand shoulder to shoulder and we will practice more and practice hard. We have two days break and we will get back together and we will do well and we will come back harder."

While thrilled to register a second consecutive triumph, Woolvardt is still looking for ways her side can improve before they try and claim a maiden T20 World Cup title in June and July this year.

The South Africa skipper rued a couple of dropped catches in the field during the Durban clash with India, but paid special mention to the efforts of her bowling group that saw Player of the Match Chloe Tryon (3/22) and seamer Tumi Sekhukhune (3/31) put the clamps on the visiting side.

“Pretty good catching, one or two put down, but we took one or two good ones as well. After start they had, restricting them was great,” Woolvardt said.

“The area we struggled with last season (death bowling), bowlers identified bowling slower ones into the wicket was helping. It’s something we’ve talked a lot about. Being present on the cricket field. Little things showing on the field.”

Series Schedule

First T20I, April 17 - Kingsmead, Durban (South Africa won by six wickets)
Second T20I, April 19 - Kingsmead, Durban (South Africa won by eight wickets)
Third T20I, April 22 - Wanderers, Johannesburg
Fourth T20I, April 25 - Wanderers, Johannesburg
Fifth T20I, April 27 - Willowmoore Park, Benoni