NEW DELHI: A crestfallen India captain Harmanpreet Kaur doesn't know when will she overcome the near-yet-so-far feeling of the morale-shattering Women's T20 World Cup defeat against Australia that is playing havoc with her mind.
Harmanpreet's run out, as her bat got tuck in the ground while trying to complete a second run, proved to be the turning point of the game as the untimely dismissal of the skipper led to their heartbreaking five-run defeat.
"It is very difficult to control myself. I don't know. Right now, I am sitting in a hangover," Harmanpreet said at the media interaction during the post-match presentation ceremony at which she wore dark shades to hide her tears.
It has been a case of near misses for this Indian team, having narrowly lost the ODI World Cup final to England in 2017 and the CWG final to Australia in Birmingham in 2022.
No one knows the pain more than the skipper.
"I don't understand how it is going on. But after this, when we go to the room, we will know how many more days it will take. But I think we played good cricket. That's all I can say," said the woman from Moga, who battled high fever and dehydration to score a scintillating 52 off 34 balls to set up a platform but the likes of Deepti Sharma let slip the opportunity.
1/10:Women's T20 World Cup: India falter to nemesis Australia again
2/10:India's perennial problem
<p>India wilted under the pressure of a knock-out game yet again after skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's freak run out as defending champions Australia entered their seventh successive Women's T20 World Cup final.<br /><br /></p>ANI
3/10:Sloppy fielding from India
<p>India's shoddy fielding and catching allowed Australia to post a challenging 172 for four after Meg Lanning opted to bat in the semifinal.<br /><br /></p>PTI
4/10:Harmanpreet, Jemimah lead counter-attack
<p>At 28 for three, India were down and out but Harmanpreet (52 off 34) and Jemimah Rodrigues (43 off 24) produced a counter-attacking 69-run stand off just 41 balls to bring the team back in the game.<br /><br /></p>ANI
5/10:India lose the advantage
<p>India needed a very gettable 39 off the last 30 balls with five wickets in hand but as it has been the case in the past, the team came up short to finish at 167 for eight.<br /><br /><br /></p>AFP
6/10:Australia continue to reign supreme
<p>India had lost to five-time champions Australia in the previous World Cup final and more recently in the CWG final last year.<br /><br /></p>PTI
7/10: India's agonising wait
<p>Another loss in a knockout game extended India's long wait for a world title.<br /><br /></p>PTI
8/10:India suffer early blows
<p>Despite losing the destructive Shafali Verma and star batter Smriti Mandhana cheaply, Jemimah and India skipper ensured boundaries.<br /><br /></p>AFP
9/10:Harmanpreet gets going
<p>Harmanpreet, who was a doubtful starter for the do-or-die game due to high fever, got going with a crisp six over long on off Jess Jonassen.<br /><br /></p>ANI
10/10:Mooney extends her record
<p>India's bowling effort also left a lot to be desired as Beth Mooney extended her envious record against India with a classy 54 off 37 balls.<br /><br /></p>Getty ImagesHarmanpreet and Jemimah Rodrigues had set it up nicely by adding 69 from 41 balls but one can't ignore the fact that Deepti, considered, India's No. 1 all-rounder, once gain failed to display any significant power-hitting skills, scoring 20 off 17 balls.
Former England men's team captain Nasser Hussain termed her run-out as "schoolgirl error".
"He (Nasser) said that? Okay. I don't know. That is a way of thinking. I don't know. But sometimes it happens. I have seen many times in cricket when batters are taking a single like that and sometimes bat is stuck there. But obviously, I will take it as we were unlucky today."
Harmanpreet felt the only way she could have been dismissed was a freak run out and as luck would have it, that is exactly what happened.
"Definitely, it was a disappointment because the way I was batting, maybe that was the only chance to know how I can get out. If my bat didn't get stuck and I would've easily finished that run.
1/10:'Harmanpreet Kaur's run-out was turning point'
2/10:TOUGH LUCK
<p>India suffered a five-run loss to Australia in the semi-final of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. </p>Agencies
3/10:TURNING POINT
<p>"Tough luck Team India. Harmanpreet's runout was the turning point & India will be disappointed to miss out on the finals," VVS tweeted.</p>TIMESOFINDIA.COM
4/10:CHALLENGING TOTAL
<p>Batting first, Australia posted 172/4 in their 20 overs.</p>Agencies
5/10:MOONEY'S SHOW
<p>Beth Mooney scored a fine half-century - 54 off 37 balls. Skipper Meg Lanning (49*) and Ashleigh Gardner (31*) added valuable runs for Australia.</p>Agencies
6/10:'SUPER' SHIKHA
<p>Shikha Pandey was the pick of the bowlers for India, taking 2/32 in four overs. </p>AFP
7/10:SOLID STAND
<p>Chasing 173, India were reduced to 28/3 but a 69-run stand between Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet helped swing momentum in India. </p>AFP
8/10:HEARTBREAK
<p>Harmanpreet suffered a freak dismissal during the semi-final against Australia at a crucial juncture in the game.</p>AFP
9/10:CAPTAIN'S KNOCK
<p>Harmanpreet was playing beautifully to reach her half-century and put her side in contention chasing Australia's 172/4. </p>AFP
10/10:BACK TO THE HUT
<p>Harmanpreet was run out for 52 runs.</p>AFP"If I had stayed till the last moment, we could have definitely finished the match one over earlier as we had the momentum."
The skipper didn't take names but it was evident she was referring to Deepti when she spoke about batting with responsibility and positive approach once she got out.
"The moment I got out, the moment the momentum shifted from India to Australia, I personally felt it was a turning point. It is disappointing because we shouldn't have lost like this. Because in the end, after coming so close, we could have batted with more responsibility and with a positive approach," the skipper said.
Once she got out, she felt that young Richa Ghosh and seasoned Deepti, who has now played international cricket for a decade, will finish the game.
"Even after that (her run-out), you know, Deepti was there, Richa was there. I had a self-belief that they can do it too because Richa has also batted well in all the matches till now. After I got out, we played 7-8 dot balls in the middle and the match turned there," she lamented.
(With PTI inputs)
