For Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian captain believes that they are entering each match with a hunger and desire to win that will not change as they prepare for their much-anticipated clash with Pakistan in the Asia Cup later this month.
Having won all their recent matches on home soil, the women’s team of India is up and riding on self-assurance. They triumphed in a three-match ODI series and a lone Test against South Africa, while earning 1-1 draw in T20I series.
The captain told Star Sports that “Each day now we have, every time we go to play matches we have equal importance to all our matches. We just want to win every game I think that’s how it should be for any team even from one person to another person.”
Kaur’s upcoming task is Women’s Asia cup starting on 19 July wherein the tournament will start at Dambulla against arch-rivals Pakistan.
As a skipper, she knows it is her responsibility to keep her teammates calm during crucial games.
“When you play against Pakistan then there is different atmosphere of both countries because both teams want their team to win there. As player there is lot of pressure but as leader it becomes your responsibility when your team feels easy in that environment so that they don’t feel like we are playing against Pakistan or it’s pressure game,” she said.
India vs Pakistan contest always grabs attention whether its men cricket or Women. However, Kaur suggests that her squad should tune out background noise and treat it like any other game on hand.
“It gonna be important for me to make everyone feel that this is also just another game. We have do well for the team and make the team win
“Besides thinking about what’s happening in stadium who else are cheering, who else are talking about them just focus on main things. Don’t think about things which you cannot control,” she added.
Jemimah Rodrigues, the middle order batter expressed her team’s excitement and confidence towards the Asia cup competition.
“The zeal is really high; that has always been there. It’s the best feeling, but above all it just inspires you to know that whenever we step out on that field, there is a single person behind us supporting,” she said
“It’s about how well we prepare rather than thinking too much ahead of ourselves. This all about preparation as far as results are concerned. We know if we prepare well then we are going to go out there and do well” she added.
