India captain Harmanpreet Kaur accepted the team’s lack of consistency and poor performance in the ODI format following a heavy 185-run defeat against Australia in the third ODI at the Bellerive Oval. India, chasing a daunting 410-run target, was bundled out for 224 in 45.1 overs, leading to Australia’s 3-0 series sweep and an 8-2 lead in the multi-format competition.
Expressing disappointment, Harmanpreet remarked, “I think overall we didn’t play good cricket. In T20, we were doing all the things right and in ODI, we didn’t play good cricket. I think that is something which cost us.” She emphasized the importance of consistency in the 50-over format, noting the necessity of avoiding repeated mistakes.
Acknowledging Australia’s strong performance, Harmanpreet credited the opposition for their exceptional cricket, stating, “Credit goes to the Australian team also, they really played good cricket, and they didn’t give us a chance to bounce back.” Despite the defeat, she highlighted the valuable lessons learned during the series, focusing on improvement for future matches.
Looking ahead to the upcoming test match in Perth, Harmanpreet stressed the significance of maintaining a positive mindset within the team, saying, “Keeping everybody in a good space of mind is very important. I know we have very less time to prepare, but now it’s only about believing in yourself, keeping yourself in a good frame of mind and doing the right thing for the team.” The Indian women’s team will conclude their tour with a test match against Australia at the Perth Stadium on March 6.
