Team India leadership shake-up? Kaur’s captaincy in peril

The stands of the Dubai International Stadium had largely emptied by the time Pooja Vastrakar cleared her front leg and unsuccessfully tried to swing a full toss sealing Indias fate and nearly confirming their exit from the group stagemdashnot with a resounding flourish but with a disheartening whimperIt was all but confirmed with New Zealandrsquos 54run win over Pakistan a day laterThis outcome took everyone by surprise Even the few pundits who had predicted India would struggle to qualify for the semifinals could not have foreseen the magnitude of this collapseNot very long ago captain Harmanpreet Kaur talking to the media at the captainsrsquo conclave said ldquoI can say this is the best team we are going in with for a T20 World Cup We have players who have been together for a long time We know what the pressure is like and how to handle it We are thus confident that this time it will be our momentrdquo Who knew these words would come to haunt her over the next two weeksIndia have had their fair share of nearmisses in World Cup history notably in the 50over format back in 2005 and the T20 version in 2020 both times falling to the formidable Australians It is hard to ignore the troubling trend of the side faltering under pressure during crunch momentsTime and again they have snatched defeat from jaws of victory whether in the 2022 T20 World Cup final or the recent Asia Cup final These were games they should have clinched with ease yet somehow they let the weight of expectation get the best of themIt is now learnt that the BCCI plans to convene with the selection committee and head coach Amol Muzumdar to deliberate on Harmanpreet Kaurrsquos position as captain who took on the role of T20 captain in 2016 after India failed to reach the semifinals during the tournament hosted in IndiaSince her appointment India has made it to the knockout stages of various competitions even reaching the final of the T20 World Cup in 2020 However despite these appearances the team has consistently struggled to convert these opportunities into victories This years World Cup proved particularly challenging although having entered the tournament with a robust squad The final blow came last Sunday when Australia eliminated them from contentionAs the next 50over World Cup approachesmdashset to take place in Indiamdashit will be crucial for the BCCI to consider whether to appoint a new captain before the New Zealand series Such a decision could provide the new leader with adequate time to shape a competitive squad for the World CupThroughout the T20 World Cup campaign persistent issues resurfaced with the team securing only two wins out of four matches While Harmanpreet contributed solid performances with the bat inconsistency among the batting lineup plagued the team undermining their overall efforts In preparation for the World Cup the Indian team held multiple training camps and arrived early in the UAE to acclimatize to the conditions which they believed would complement their playing style Unfortunately the tournament turned out to be one to forget for the teamIt is now learnt that the BCCI plans to convene with the selection committee and head coach Amol Muzumdar to deliberate on Harmanpreet Kaurrsquos position as captain who took on the role of T20 captain in 2016 after India failed to reach the semifinals during the tournament hosted in IndiaSince her appointment India has made it to the knockout stages of various competitions even reaching the final of the T20 World Cup in 2020 However despite these appearances the team has consistently struggled to convert these opportunities into victories This years World Cup proved particularly challenging although having entered the tournament with a robust squad The final blow came last Sunday when Australia eliminated them from contentionThroughout the World Cup campaign persistent issues resurfaced with the team securing only two wins out of four matches While Kaur contributed solid performances with the willow inconsistency among the batting lineup plagued the team undermining their overall effortsldquoIt should happen in a few daysrsquo time We understand there is a need for a fresh face to lead the team The earlier it the decision is taken the better it will be for the new captain to prepare with adequate time to shape a competitive squad for the next Cup Harman has been phenomenal and she will continue to be an important contributor for the side Smriti and Jemi have been impressive let us hope the baton is passed to a deserving playerrdquo a source in the board told MidDay on the condition of anonymityKaurrsquos journey as captain has been marked by highs and lows Her initial tenure saw the Indian team rise in prominence and yet her inability to clinch titles has raised questions about captaincy strategies and the sidersquos mental fortitude in highpressure situations