India coach reveals what went wrong during T20WC campaign
India's bowling and fielding must improve in the shortest format, according to head coach Amol Muzumdar.
India coach Amol Muzumdar believes his side needs to adjust their strategy in the shortest format as he deals with the fallout from not reaching the knockout stages of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup.
You have to go back to 2023 to find the last time India qualified for the semi-finals of the Women's T20 World Cup, with their six-wicket loss to Australia at Lord's on Sunday confining the side to a second consecutive campaign without appearing in the knockout phase of the event.
Australia dash India’s semi-final hopes with a commanding win at Lord’s | Match Highlights | Women's T20WC 2026
Australia completed a flawless chase to defeat India by 6 wickets at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Muzumdar knows how important tactics are in the shortest format and thinks India need to slightly change their tact if they are to keep up with the T20I pacesetters such as Australia.
"I think we really have to rethink our strategy for our T20 game," the India coach said after the loss to Australia.
"We really need to put our heads around what combinations we are going to play."
Harmanpreet Kaur shifts gears at the death | Women's T20WC 2026
Harmanpreet Kaur goes on the attack in the death overs against Australia at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Muzumdar suggested experienced skipper Harmanpreet Kaur should continue as captain of the side, but indicated that decision was entirely up to selectors.
Pressed further on the exact changes that India required in T20 cricket, Muzumdar highlighted the side's bowling and fielding as areas that needed prompt improvement.
"With the bat, I think we have been batting with a lot of intent," he said.
"We have been positive in our thinking. We have been thinking about fours and sixes. As modern-day cricket is all about, I guess T20 cricket is all about fours and sixes. And so we have been thinking and we have been playing in that fashion for sure.
"It's just that I think our bowling also needs to up the ante a little bit. I don't think our bowling or our fielding helped the cause, to be very honest. So I guess we need to really go back and think how we're going to approach the T20 game and also be in that positive frame of mind."
Deepti Sharma's milestone moment | Women's T20WC 2026
Deepti Sharma reaches a historic milestone, becoming the leading wicket-taker in women’s internationals after dismissing Beth Mooney at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Muzumdar said India's bowling attack remains a relatively young group, with No.1 ranked T20I bowler Sree Charani and pacer Kranti Gaud still both under 23 years of age.
The coach also bemoaned the absence of spinner Shreyanka Patil, who missed the key clash with Australia after she injured her ankle earlier in the tournament.
"If you look at our bowling attack, it's been very inexperienced as far as international cricket is concerned," he noted.
"So I've said this before in the previous press conference that give us 18 months and this attack will be a different one."