“To be very honest, we…” – Amol Muzumdar blasts players after India’s shock loss in Women’s Asia Cup 2024 final

Head coach Amol Muzumdar has admitted that India did not play well in the final of the recently concluded Women’s Asia Cup T20 2024. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side suffered a shock eight-wicket defeat against the hosts in the title decider on Sunday (July 28) in Dambulla.

Batting first, India posted a competitive total of 165 for 6 in the allotted 20 overs. Star opener Smriti Mandhana led the team’s charge with the bat again, scoring 60 runs off 47 balls with the help of 10 fours. Richa Ghosh (30 off 14) and Jemimah Rodrigues (29 off 16) also played useful knocks with the bat as India posted a 160-plus total.

However, the score was not enough for the Indian women’s team to defend the title as the bowlers failed to come up with a match-winning effort. Sri Lanka chased down the total with utmost ease. They crossed the finishing line in the 19th over by losing just two wickets.

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu led from the front, scoring 61 while Harshitha Samarawickrama scored an unbeaten 69 to power their team to a historic victory. Kavisha Dilhari also played a crucial knock of 30 not out from 16 balls.

We didn’t play well: Amol Muzumdar

Speaking after the defeat in the final, Amol Muzumdar did not beat around the bush and admitted that his team did not play to its full potential. He stated that the team failed to execute its plans. Mazumdar also pointed out that India have done well in recent times and just failed to do well in one odd game. At the same time, he also made sure to give Sri Lanka credit for their fine display.

“Well actually, to be very honest, in one odd game we didn’t play well; we didn’t execute whatever we hoped for. But that’s about it. We’ve been dominating right through the last series against South Africa and this tournament also.

“So I think in one odd game we didn’t play to the potential, but credit needs to go where it’s supposed to go, and I think Sri Lanka batted really well. I think 165 was a really good total, but I think Sri Lanka batted really well. They got off to a flyer, and we couldn’t capitalize on the opportunities that we had. But at the same time, credit needs to go to Sri Lanka for batting really well,” Amol Muzumdar told Star Sports.

“I think in all three departments we have shown some great character. Our batting has been good for the last two months; we’ve seen that the batting has been really good.

“The bowlers have done their job; the bowlers have been fantastic in the tournament, and also against South Africa, the bowlers did wonders over there. And progressively we are going ahead in our fielding department also. We made a few blunders today, but I’m sure we are on the right track as far as fielding is concerned,” Amol Muzumdar added.

Even though the Indian team lost the final, it is still the most successful team in the history of the Women’s Asia Cup. India have won 6 of the 8 editions of the tournament so far. They won the first six editions of the competition before losing the final against Bangladesh in the seventh edition in 2018. In 2022, India reclaimed the trophy with a win over Sri Lanka in the final before losing the latest final.