Ravi Shastri has often been criticised on social media. Trolled as well. But never did he shy away from responsibility. I remember him telling me once that in adverse situations, it is important that the coach takes over and shields his or her players. Face the bullets coming at them. When India were all out for 36 against Australia in Adelaide (2020), it was Shastri who faced the media. Handled the questions head on and protected the boys. It helped make a statement.
To be honest, I expected the same from Amol Muzumdar in Dubai at the end of the India-New Zealand T20 World Cup game. His team were a shambles and he needed to take accountability. Either Muzumdar or Harmanpreet Kaur should have attended the press conference. Taken the hard questions, and stood up to the challenge. Sending Jemimah Rodrigues was a cop-out. Jemimah is a likeable personality, and with her, the media wouldn’t ask the tough questions. This is where Muzumdar could have made a statement. He did not.
When the going is good, anyone can face the media. It is all rosy in such situations, and no one really asks the hard questions. It is only when things don’t go well that you are tested. And that’s when your strength of character has to come to the fore. For Muzumdar, it should have been after the game against New Zealand. India were a dismal second-best on the night, and now stare at the prospect of getting eliminated in the group stage itself.
All eyes would again be zoomed in on #IND‘s fielding in their next World Cup match versus #PAK. Hopefully, all their training sessions would reap rewards for the #IND side.@fancricket12https://t.co/Eb9VFYcSJg
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) October 5, 2024
It is on Muzumdar and his support team to inspire the girls. Instil the self-belief that they can beat Australia. India have indeed run Australia close in the past and there is no reason why they can’t cross the line. But to do so, they need to believe that they can. And it is up to Muzumdar to help them to do so. Jemimah isn’t the one to answer what needs to change. As a player, it is not her job. It has to be the skipper or the coach. If the captain isn’t willing, the coach has to step up. To see Jemimah come and address the media was disappointing.
There’s a lesson to be learned here from Gary Kirsten as well. In the years leading up to the 2011 World Cup triumph, Kirsten wouldn’t be seen anywhere near a microphone when the team did well. When they had a rotten day, he would front up to them, and take every question on the chin.
India versus Pakistan in the women’s game has always been hype without substance. This is because India have forever been a few notches higher than Pakistan. Dubai was expected to be no different. Till Friday night, at least. Now, however, things are hazy. Pakistan come into the match on the the back of a famous win, while India are in disarray. Was the New Zealand game an aberration, or is India’s World Cup dream well and truly over?
If the fielding was almost predictably poor, the batting too was shockingly bad. After the loss to New Zealand, India stand on the brink of elimination from the Women’s T20 World Cup.@BoriaMajumdar writes.#T20WomensWorldCup #INDWvsNZW https://t.co/2l9cqqSjvX
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) October 5, 2024
Again, it will boil down to Harmanpreet and Muzumdar to provide the answers. How will they get the dressing room to start believing again? What will they tell the girls ahead of the Pakistan game tonight? What are the areas they will focus on? Most importantly, how will they shut out the external noises?
For Muzumdar, the Asia Cup wasn’t a good outing. But that was the Asia Cup, and not much was said. This is a World Cup, and the most important event in the calendar. Time is fast running out for him. He needs to take control and deliver, for otherwise, sport can be really ruthless and draining. With a match against Pakistan at hand, more so.