Heartbreaking loss to England in the Women's World Cup final results in tossing and turning for Team India reveals, head coach Tushar Arothe; skipper Mithali and player Harmanpreet disappoint coach
Skipper Mithali Raj. Pics/getty images
What does your morning feel like after losing a World Cup final by nine runs the previous night?
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Ask India's women's team coach Tushar Arothe. "It was a sleepless night for the [support staff] and I think the players did not sleep either, because their eyes were swollen," Arothe, former Baroda all-rounder, told mid-day from London.
Yesterday after India allowed England to walk away with the Women's World Cup at Lord's on Sunday.
Elaborating on the mood in camp, Arothe said: "We decided not to discuss anything about match at breakfast. We are very disappointed to be honest; we lost everything in the last seven overs."
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Arothe felt skipper Mithali Raj's run out was crucial. Mithali (17) responded to striker Punam Raut's call after the Mumbai girl pushed one towards short mid-wicket. But the India captain gave up halfway and didn't even dive to make her crease. Natalie Sciver then threw the ball to wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor, who dislodged the bails in the 13th over of the innings for the captain to make her way to the pavilion.
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India's women's World Cup coach Tushar Arothe
'No run there'
"I am not blaming anyone, but there wasn't a run there. It is difficult to digest that run out," said Arothe.
Harmanpreet Kaur, who steered India to their second World Cup final with her unbeaten 171 against Australia, played sensibly to score 51 off 80 balls before getting caught by Tammy Beaumont at deep backward square leg off left-arm spinner Alex Hartley. Arothe, however, expected more from the in-form Kaur. "Harman played a very good innings yesterday, but she should have kept the ball down. England desperately wanted her wicket. When Veda Krishnamurthy (35) lost her wicket, we needed 29 runs. She too shouldn't have play that shot," Arothe said.
Mixed feelings
Arothe, 50, who replaced former India women's captain Purnima Rau as coach two months prior to the World Cup, felt the end result gives him mixed feelings. "It's an achievement and setback too. The World Cup was in our hands, but England took it away," he remarked.
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