'This team has shown no growth': Mithali Raj lambasts Team India after Shocking T20 World Cup Exit

The persistent woes of crumbling under pressure in a clutch situation once again propelled India's elimination in a marquee tournament. The 9-run loss inflicted by Australia Women on Sunday dented India's semi-final chances and New Zealand's win over Pakistan ended India Women's stint at the T20 World Cup 2024. From the outset, it was a monumental task for India to get the better of the defending champions. However, having given itself a fair chance to go past the finishing line, it would be a tough loss to swallow.

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Mithali Raj Goes Hard On Her Team Following Loss Against Australia

Chasing 152, India squandered a purposeful start but when a partnership had solidified between Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma, India had started to smell the opportunities. With 42 to get in 25 balls and 6 wickets in hand, it was advantage India. However, the worst that could have happened had taken place. India lost wickets at quick intervals and the well-set batter Harmanpreet Kaur left stranded at the non-striker's end in the majority of the final over. Kaur found wanting of the support and eventually, India lost the game by 9 runs.

Reflecting on the loss, former India skipper Mithali Raj went hard on the team for bottling a golden chance.

“If I talk about the Australia game, it was a match to win. I thought at some point we had a chance but it seemed like we are following the same template against Australia. Taking the match deep but falling short eventually. It's not working.” Kaur told PTI.

She even went on to say that, the team hasn't improved and gets complacent after mauling the teams other than the best one.

“I feel that in the last two, three years, I've not really seen any growth in this team, in the sense like, I mean, beating the best side is what you always prepare for but it seems like we are saturated in the sense we are beating other teams and we are pretty happy in that.”

Kaur brought forward the model of South Africa, which reached the semi final of the Women's T20 World Cup 2024

“Every other team has shown growth despite limited depth, a case in point being South Africa. We have not.”