India women’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur talked about how it is her responsibility as a leader to ensure that the team is mentally prepared for a high-stakes match like Pakistan. In the Women’s Asia Cup 2024, the two teams will square off in Dambulla on July 19.
There is a certain vibe in both countries when you play against Pakistan. Both nations desire for their team to triumph. We have a great deal of pressure as players. In order to prevent my team from believing that we are playing against Pakistan or that this is a pressure game, it is my duty as a leader to help them feel at ease in such situation. For me, it will be crucial to convey to everyone that this is simply another game. We have to perform well on the squad and lead the team to victory. Who are the other supporters cheering for, other from what is happening in the stadium? About whom are they speaking? Simply concentrate on the essentials. Harmanpreet said to Star Sports, “Don’t worry about the things that we can’t control.”
Jemimah Rodrigues, the middle-order basher for India, expressed similar thoughts to her captain when she spoke about the team environment prior to the subcontinental competition. There is a great deal of energy, and that has always been the situation. It is a pleasant sensation, but more than that, it is incredibly motivating to know that we have everyone’s support when we take the pitch. It’s true that we frequently picture ourselves winning every game when we take the pitch, so just picture the self-assurance and drive we have. Instead of planning too far ahead, the only thing that matters is how well we prepare. It’s always about preparedness when it comes to outcomes. This is, I believe, the current way of thinking. We are confident that with proper preparation, we will perform well in the field.
“With the approach we currently have, we are giving equal importance to every match, regardless of when we play it,” Harmanpreet continued. We all feel that as a team, we should be able to win every game, and that is what every member of the team is experiencing.
Deepti Sharma also showed her delight, saying that these kinds of competitions are what athletes look forward to. Because they are large competitions, gamers wait for these kinds of events. Our team’s performance is our only priority, and we will support one another to ensure that we play well in the remaining games.
