India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur faced a major setback during the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match against Pakistan at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, suffering a neck injury that forced her to leave the field in tears. Kaur, who scored a crucial 29 runs off 24 balls, played a pivotal role in guiding her team toward victory amid a challenging situation where wickets were falling. She displayed great composure, working in partnership with Deepti Sharma to maintain the scoreboard without seeking risky boundaries.Harmanpreet Kaur left the field in tears after sustaining a neck injury during the match against Pakistan.
Before Kaur’s injury, she was instrumental in keeping the innings steady. India’s opening pair, Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, managed to put together an 18-run partnership, with Verma scoring 32 runs off 35 balls. However, Pakistan’s Sadia Iqbal struck first, dismissing Mandhana in the fifth over. Jemimah Rodrigues came in next, contributing 23 runs off 28 balls, and formed a vital 43-run partnership with Verma.
India’s innings took a turn when Fatima Sana claimed two wickets in a single over, taking out both Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh for a golden duck. As the team approached the target, Kaur’s injury struck in the 19th over when she was nearing a win for India, forcing her to retire hurt. Harmanpreet Kaur left the field in tears after sustaining a neck injury during the match against Pakistan.
Substituting for Kaur, S Sajana swiftly ended the match with a boundary, securing a six-wicket victory for India. Despite the injury, Kaur’s leadership helped steer India to their first win of the tournament.
In terms of bowling, India excelled in restricting Pakistan to a modest total of 105 runs for 8 wickets. Arundhati Reddy led the charge with impressive figures of 3 for 19, while Shreyanka Patil added 2 wickets to her tally. Pakistan struggled with their batting, losing wickets at regular intervals after winning the toss and opting to bat first. They were unable to build partnerships, with Nida Dar being the top scorer at 28 runs off 34 balls. Harmanpreet Kaur left the field in tears after sustaining a neck injury during the match against Pakistan.
India’s disciplined bowling attack dismantled the Pakistan lineup, with Renuka Singh and Deepti Sharma also contributing with key wickets. After a rocky start, Pakistan reached a total of 105 runs, leaving them vulnerable against a determined Indian side. This victory not only boosts India’s standings in the tournament but also highlights the significance of Kaur’s contributions, both as a player and a captain.
