Harmanpreet Kaur said that India need to play aggressive cricket to beat Australia
India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was happy that her side qualified for the semi-finals of the ICC Women's World T20 with a 52-run win over Ireland on Thursday.
But she was quick to add that the team needs to improve in certain areas.
"Happy that we have qualified for the semis. There are still a few things that we need to sit down and talk about. It is a short format. Sometimes your main bowler might not have a great day and that is why Jemmy (Jemimah Rodrigues) and me bowled.
"We need to improve on our batting and bowling also. We did not bat according to our plan and the same with our bowling," Harmanpreet said at the post-match ceremony.
India so far have won all their matches in the tournament and are tied on six points with table-toppers Australia but Harmanpreet's side are second because of an inferior run-rate to the Aussies.
The winners on Saturday will top the Group B and will have the chance of having a favourable fixture and Harmnapreet feels that India need to be aggressive to beat Meg Lanning's side in Guyana.
"We have to be aggressive all the time if you have to win against Australia," said the 29-year-old.
The Indian batters have been shaky so far in the tournament with individual performances doing the job rather than collective. Harmanpreet smashed a century in the first game against New Zealand along with a fifty from Rodrigues but both have failed to put their hands up in the next two games. This is where experience came in and the seasoned Mithali Raj helped the team's cause.
Raj scored two fifties in two innings including a 51 off 56 balls against Ireland and currently has 107 runs to her name in the tournament.
She is not a typical T20 batswoman, instead, she plays herself in and keeps the scorecard ticking, thus, allowing a free-scoring Smriti Mandhana to take charge and get India off to a flyer.
And that is exactly what happened against Ireland.
"The wicket was quite challenging. It was slow and soft. My partnership with Smriti was very crucial. Hopefully, we will get a better wicket in the next game," said Raj.
She also backed Mandhana to come good and score big in the upcoming matches after the southpaw failed to create an impact so far in the tournament.
"When someone is going through a lean patch it's important to remain positive, I'm sure she (Smriti) will get better with every game. This team has definitely improved a lot from the last World Cup," said the seasoned right-hander.
