No regrets on dropping Mithali, says Harmanpreet after loss

TIL Desk Sports/ The decision to drop a player of Mithali Raj’s calibre backfired during India’s humiliating semi-final loss to England in the World T20 but skipper Harmanpreet Kaur said that she has “no regrets” as it was decision taken keeping the team’s interests in mind.

The Indian batting collapsed as they managed only 112 with eight wickets falling for 24 runs as the visibly upset veteran’s blank stare sitting in the dug-out said it all. At the toss, Harmanpreet said: “It’s not about not selecting Mithali, it’s about keeping a winning combination.” The decision was questioned by former England captain Nasser Hussain and former Indian Test player Sanjay Manjrekar on air.

However the Indian skipper defended her decision. “Whatever we decided, we decided for the team. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, no regrets. I’m proud of the way my girls played through the tournament,” Harmanpreet said at the post-match presentation ceremony. Mithali’s strike-rate was always an issue but considering that Taniya Bhatia hasn’t been able to accelerate and Veda Krishnamurthy in poor form, the decision to drop a seasoned campaigner boomeranged on India.