It’s about enjoying the moment and not taking too much pressure: Harmanpreet

Bengaluru, Sep 26: India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur knows that fans have placed heaps of expectations on her side ahead of the upcoming ICC Women’s ODI World Cup at home, and she wants to enjoy the moment without succumbing to the pressure to land a maiden title.
India will start their campaign in the tournament with a match against Sri Lanka on October 30 at Guwahati.
“I think leading your country is always a very special moment for any player, but leading your country in ODI World Cup is even more special, and on top of that, it is a home World Cup, so it’s even more special,” Harmanpreet said during a captains’ press meet organised by the ICC.
“I mean, it’s unbelievable because, you know, when I started playing I never even thought I would get the opportunity to lead my country, it was only in a dream.
“The ODI World Cup is happening after 12 years (at home), and I think it is going to be very amazing for all of us. It’s all about enjoying this moment and not taking too much pressure,” she added.
India will come up against arch-rivals Pakistan at Colombo on October 5, but Harmanpreet wanted to focus on cricket rather than worrying about the political connotations of the match.
The recent Indo-Pak contests in the ongoing Asia Cup at the UAE saw some heated moments when some players engaged in over-the-top celebrations and verbal altercations.
“Well, we can only control one thing which is playing cricket on the field and we are not thinking of other things. Because as cricketers, we can only control the things we have in our hand. But in other parts, I have zero control and I don’t even take those things into my mind.
“We don’t even discuss those things in the dressing room. We are only here to play cricket and our focus is only on cricket,” she said.
Talking about pressure, Australian captain Alyssa Healy will have a rich legacy to live up to.
Defending champions Australia have seven trophies in their cabinet, and is that record a millstone around her neck?
“I don’t think it’s quite in Australian culture to get too complacent about things at any point in time. And I don’t think it gets any easier. I think India in their home conditions are going to be really, really tough to beat.
“I think this ODI World Cup is going to be one of the strongest ones that I have been a part of. As a skipper, I’m really looking forward to that challenge of going out there and competing against some of the best teams in the world,” said Healy.
Australia recently beat India 2-1 in an ODI series at the latter’s home to underline their preparations for the ICC showpiece.
Healy said the rubber taught her side the need to ward off the pressure during the entire duration of the game.
“The wicket’s pretty flat. That’s probably my key takeaway. But I think it’s going to be about who can hold the composure the longest in this tournament and handle the pressure for long periods of time.
“I think if the wickets are going to play as flat as what they were in that series, then you’re going to have to sustain pressure at different points in time and put it back on the opposition. So that’s probably my key takeaway,” the Australian wicketkeeper noted. (PTI)