DAMBULLA, July 28: Indian cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur acknowledged her team’s need for substantial improvement ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, following an eight-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final held on Sunday. This loss, a humbling experience for India, highlighted key areas requiring urgent attention and preparation.
“We are looking to improve in some areas. We will definitely work hard and remember this day,” Harmanpreet stated during the post-match presentation, reflecting on the disappointing performance. Despite a strong tournament run, India’s plans fell apart in the final, especially their bowling, which failed to produce early breakthroughs.
“We played good cricket throughout the tournament and, no doubt, we made a lot of fumbles today and that cost us. It was a decent total, we were looking for breakthroughs in the powerplay but it didn’t go according to plan and Sri Lanka batted really well,” Harmanpreet explained.
On the other side, Sri Lanka’s captain Chamari Athapaththu expressed her elation with the historic victory, marking the nation’s first major success in women’s international cricket. “I am really happy about our team performance, especially the batting performances, especially Harshitha and Dilhari,” Athapaththu remarked.
The win was celebrated by the home crowd and is seen as a significant achievement for Sri Lankan cricket, with hopes of inspiring future generations. Athapaththu emphasized their dedication and team spirit, thanking the fans and acknowledging the support from the coaching staff. She noted the team’s outlook towards the upcoming T20 World Cup, maintaining positive momentum from their recent success.
“I have to lead from the front, that’s my duty for my country. We always talk about positive things in the dressing room, for which credit goes to the head coach and the support staff. Our next target is the World Cup,” she concluded.
This memorable victory underscores Sri Lanka’s potential and sets a firm foundation for their future pursuits on the international stage.
Original Story https://theshillongtimes.com/2024/07/29/we-will-remember-this-day-and-work-hard-harmanpreet/
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