Copyright newskarnataka
Indore: For all the promise shown by the Women’s Premier League (WPL), India’s women’s cricket team continues to grapple with an old failing — the inability to close out big matches when pressure peaks. When India fell agonisingly short of world titles at the 2017 ODI World Cup and 2020 T20 World Cup, the defeats were chalked up to “pressure handling.” The WPL, launched to toughen players mentally and tactically, was expected to change that. Three seasons in, and with the fourth just months away, the problem persists. The latest heartbreak came in Indore, where India suffered a four-run defeat to England on Sunday — a loss that has complicated their path to the Women’s World Cup 2025 semi-finals, with four teams now fighting for the last available spot. Familiar Story, Familiar Opponent India’s recent record makes for frustrating reading: Mumbai 2023, Perth 2024, Delhi 2025, and now Indore 2025 — matches where they dominated before collapsing. In Perth, India were 184 for 3 chasing 299, with Smriti Mandhana on a century. Within five overs, they lost 7 for 26. At the Wankhede in 2023, chasing 259, they fell short by three runs after needing just 41 off 38 balls. Even the Delhi ODI this year — chasing an improbable 413 — showed similar fragility. India had surged to 369 with Smriti’s blistering hundred and a late stand from Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana, before losing 3 for 15. Skills, Yes — But What About the Nerves? India’s technical standards and player pool are stronger than ever. Facilities at the BCCI Centre of Excellence and a robust domestic structure have produced world-class talent. Yet, as coaches often admit privately, “a World Cup is not a domestic final.” Pressure, not skill, remains the biggest hurdle. Before the 2024 T20 World Cup, players worked with sports psychologist Mughda Bavare, a move that captain Harmanpreet Kaur praised. Jemimah Rodrigues also said in The Cricket Monthly: “When you play at this level, pressure is immense. Sometimes you don’t even understand why you feel a certain way. Professional help lets you train your mind to respond differently — maybe even change outcomes.” WPL’s Influence — A New Pathway If there’s one silver lining, it’s that the WPL has accelerated the rise of new talent. Players like Kranti Gaud and N. Shree Charani, both part of this World Cup squad, might never have been noticed without the league. Gaud, who starred with 4 for 25 in last year’s Senior Women’s T20 Trophy final, was picked by UP Warriorz, while Charani joined Delhi Capitals after impressing in the Challenger Trophy. Similarly, Kashvee Gautam, famous for her 10-wicket haul in 2020, finally debuted for India this year after a stint with Gujarat Giants. India’s skills are no longer in doubt — their temperament still is. With all remaining matches, including possible knockouts, set for the DY Patil Stadium, familiarity with conditions could help. If they manage to channel calm under pressure, “Navi Mumbai 2025” might finally be remembered not for heartbreak, but for redemption.
