Harmanpreet Kaur Confident India Can Beat Australia Ahead of ODI World Cup 2025
Ahead of the crucial ODI series against Australia, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has expressed strong confidence in her team's ability to defeat the reigning champions. With the ODI World Cup 2025 on home soil looming, Kaur believes her team has the belief and preparation to challenge Australia's dominance.
India's Preparation and Mindset Shift
Harmanpreet Kaur emphasized the hard work and improvement the team has shown over the past year, focusing on fitness and skill development. "We are a team that's been working hard all year long, and have shown improvement day by day," she stated. This preparation, combined with recent success in England, has instilled a genuine belief within the squad that they can compete with and beat Australia.
"Our team's performance over the last year, year-and-a-half, has brought us to the point where everybody has the belief that we can beat them," Harmanpreet added, highlighting a significant shift in mindset. The series against Australia is seen as a crucial opportunity to fine-tune combinations and make a statement of intent ahead of the World Cup.
Key Factors Contributing to India's Confidence
Harmanpreet pointed to specific areas of improvement, particularly in fielding and fitness. "We were working hard towards it before this. We have been working on a lot of areas, especially areas like fielding and fitness, and now we've started to see results as well," she explained. She also emphasized the team's consistency and familiarity, stating, "This squad has been more or less consistent for a while now - the girls have been playing together for years. Now we know each other, our roles and what everyone brings to the table."
The success against England, where they defeated the full-strength side, served as further validation of their progress. "We've beaten England - their full-strength side - in England, which shows that we are doing a lot of things right," Harmanpreet noted.
Impact of the Women's Premier League and Emerging Talent
Harmanpreet acknowledged the significant impact of the Women's Premier League (WPL) in bridging the gap between domestic and international cricket. She cited Kranti Goud and Pratika Rawal as examples of young talents who have seamlessly transitioned into the international arena with confidence and maturity. "The girls coming in now look ready, they know how to push themselves at the international stage," she said.
"We've seen that particularly in players like Kranti and Pratika - they looked ready from the word go," Harmanpreet added, emphasizing the positive impact of the WPL in nurturing talent ready for the international stage.
Praise for Pratika Rawal
Harmanpreet reserved special praise for Pratika Rawal, highlighting her consistency and the stability she brings to the team. "The kind of numbers Pratika has shown, and the confidence she carries is something we could not ignore," she stated, emphasizing her importance in the World Cup squad.
Australia's Perspective and the Challenge Ahead
Australia, despite recognizing India's home advantage, remains confident in their own abilities. The touring captain acknowledged that India were probably ahead given their familiarity with the conditions. They also believe India could pose a significant challenge, given their current run and their new-found stability.
“In the women’s game, India has been a sleeping giant for a long period of time. (They) haven’t had the stability (in the past) that they do right now. They are a really dangerous side, and I think they’re fully aware of that, and what they can do to other sides.”
