Women’s World T20 Semi-Finals: From Harsha Bhogle to Sanjay Manjrekar, Critics And Fans Outrage at Mithali Raj Omission From Indian Squad After England Defeat

India were at the end of an 8-wicket thumping against England in the semi-finals of the Women's World T20 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium at North Sound on Friday following which, fans and critics questioned Mithali Raj omission from the squad.

India were at the end of an 8-wicket thumping against England in the semi-finals of the Women’s World T20 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium at North Sound on Friday.

After winning the toss and opting to bat first, the women in blue displayed a sloppy performance as their batting-line up collapsed for a paltry 112.

England had a shaky start to the second innings, losing their opening wickets at the early stages but then turned the game around in a composed manner by rotating the strike well.

As the ‘Three Lions’ outclassed India in every way, fans and critics outraged at the team’s decision to omit veteran batsman Mithali Raj from the starting eleven.

Cricketing experts including the likes of Harsha Bhogle and Sanjay Manjrekar questioned the decision:

India paid the price for two mistakes. One in planning, by dropping Mithali on this pitch. The other in execution, by rushing down the pitch to muscle the ball in front of the pitch on a very slow pitch.#ICCWWT20

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) November 23, 2018

Can understand, if you have to, that you leave out Mithali in a 180 game. But on a tough pitch? Then you play your best players and she is that. https://t.co/n3bbSodiC6

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 23, 2018

Sad end to a well fought tournament. Well played girls. Today might not have been our day. Unfortunately didn’t get enough runs. Missed @M_Raj03 in the team. Why wasn’t she playing?#INDvENG #ICCWWT20

— Saiyami Kher (@SaiyamiKher) November 23, 2018

If you don’t pick your best player in semifinals you deserve to lose. Even Captain doesn’t want to regret On Mithali Raj not featuring in this Game.We played well throughout the tournament. But missing Stumping nd catches in this make England to swung the Game Around. #INDvENG

— Abhishek Chauhan (@abhiraj0014) November 23, 2018

However, Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur stressed that she had ‘no regrets’ about the decision, “Whatever we decided, we decided for the team. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, no regrets.”

“I’m proud of the way my girls played through the tournament. This is a learning for us because we are a young team.”

Kaur also praised the world number 2 England for displaying a strong performance, “Sometimes you have to change your game according to the wicket. England bowled really well, read the wicket really well.

“It was not an easy total to chase, and our bowlers bowled really well. We stretched the match till the 18th over.”