We have been working on mental strength for a long time: Harmanpreet Kaur

Team India is preparing hard for the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup 2024. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur recently opened up on their mental strength. With the tournament set to begin in the UAE next month, Kaur's focus is on psychological resilience as a key factor in their quest for victory.

India women's cricket team has come very close to clinching major titles in recent years. They finished as runners-up in the 2020 T20 World Cup and narrowly missed out on gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. These near-misses have highlighted the importance of mental fitness in high-pressure situations, particularly in the shortest format of the game. Kaur, who will lead India in the upcoming T20 World Cup, emphasized the team's long-term commitment to building mental strength. 

"We have been working on mental strength for a long time. The last 3- 4 overs are the most crucial. T20 cricket is not a small format; at the end of the day, you are playing 40 overs. In the last 4-5 overs, the team that is mentally strong wins the match," Harmanpreet was quoted in a release by Star Sports.

We have been focusing on this for a while: Harmanpreet Kaur

The Indian skipper also shed light on the team's strategic focus on maintaining psychological equilibrium during pivotal moments. Moreover, she emphasized the importance of the last five overs of the T20 format. Kaur believes that in those phases a good execution of plans matters. Hence she hoped that the Indian team could cross the final hurdle in the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup.

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"We have been focusing on this for a while. If we can remain mentally stable in those final 5 overs, we can execute what's best for us. We are working on those aspects, and hopefully, we will overcome this hurdle in the tournament," she added.

The team, placed in Group A alongside formidable opponents like Australia and New Zealand, has a well-rounded squad combining experience and youth. With vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and talented players like Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues in their ranks, India will be a threat to any opposition.