Harmanpreet blames player mentality for big-game losses as India prepare to take on the West Indies after short turnaround.
Harmanpreet blames the mental side of the players for the recent spate of big-game losses suffered by India.
“I think it’s only the mindset because, if you see, our team has very good players,” Harmanpreet said ahead of the T20I series against West Indies, which starts on Sunday. “All of them have done really well whenever they got the opportunity. I think in the big games it’s only about the mindset and what you’re feeling individually.
“Because, as a player, as a team, you can only talk about the things you have done well. At the end of the day, it’s only you who is dealing [with the situation and pressure] in the middle and it’s only about you, how you are going to take these things forward.
“We discuss whatever is required to win but, at the end of the day, it’s the individual performer’s mindset, about how you are going to win the game for the team.”
Despite losing crucial matches, India has won 13 of the 20 Twenty20 Internationals they have played this year. Prior to their crushing defeat by Sri Lanka in the championship match, they had an undefeated run in the Asia Cup in July. After losing a crucial encounter against Australia in the group round, they were unable to go to the T20 World Cup semi-finals. When the other batters faltered, Smriti Mandhana scored the most runs for India in the Asia Cup final. Against Australia, Harmanpreet’s lone batting attempt was unsuccessful.
Following a 3-0 defeat in the ODI series in Australia, India now enters the T20Is against the West Indies.
“It’s really tough when you’re going through this patch,” she said. “At the same time, we can only talk about the good things we have done in the past. I think having team-bonding sessions are very important. So, when we were coming back from Australia, we had good talks on the flight because that was only time we could talk and think about how we can start this series. Yesterday was a good off-day and today we had a good meeting where we discussed how we have to go about in this particular series.”
“To be honest, it is difficult because you know we’re coming from Australia. After the game, only within four-five hours we left the country and came back to India,” she said. “But as professionals, these things happen and we just want to stay motivated. Yesterday was an off-day so we tried to rest well and we are looking forward to the game tomorrow.
“Think when you have very less time, it’s very difficult to come back and reflect on the things which you have done in the past. At the same time, we just have to keep talking about the positives. The young girls who have come into the team have done really well in domestic and they are also positive. I think staying together is something which is very important, which we have been doing.”