Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has opened up on reasons behind India’s Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 exit. Harmanpreet Kaur’s team suffered a six-wicket loss against Australia at Lord’s on Sunday, in what was a must-win contest for them to qualify for the semifinals.
India posted 170-4 on the board in their 20 overs but Chopra highlighted that the batters weren’t trying to hit. Indian opener Smriti Mandhana scored 38 runs off 37 balls before she was run out whereas Jemimah Rodrigues scored 34 off 28 balls before she retired out.
Harmanpreet Kaur led from the front as she scored an impressive knock of 56 runs off 27 balls, with the help of six fours and three sixes.
“This team will have to become fitter. There are many factors in fitness. It includes your ground coverage, running between the wickets, and catching, because fitness and fielding go together. Then you need the power as well to hit sixes. If you have to compete and keep getting better in T20 cricket, fitness is my prime priority, and fielding is attached to that. Those are two things you can do yourself,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
The former Delhi cricketer reckons India needs to show a bit more intent with the bat.
“A little intent will have to be shown in batting. If you leave one or two players, it seems like we are still behind. We don’t play with freedom. You lost against both Australia and South Africa because the batting let you down. The intent is not visible. Against Australia, wickets weren’t falling, but you weren’t hitting. Smriti and Shafali were going at a run-a-ball. No one was trying to hit,” he added.
The renowned commentator believes Rodrigues could have decided to retire herself out at the start of 17th over when she was struggling to hit the big shots instead of retiring in the 20th over.
“Secondly, normalize retiring out. What you did on the first ball of the 20th over, you could have done that on the first ball of the 17th over. Jemi’s bat wasn’t striking the ball well. She was trying, but it wasn’t happening, so call her out. It is not a taboo topic. A bold call should have been taken,” he said.
Chopra said India needs more potency in their bowling line-up after the World Cup exit.
“Thirdly, a little more potency is required in bowling. Sree Charani is outstanding. Deepti Sharma also does her job. Renuka Singh Thakur, maybe a little bit, but the others didn’t step up. So we need to search for bowlers. We are way behind in fast bowling. In spin, Shreyanka Patil’s injury didn’t really help, but the difference is there,” Chopra observed.
Earlier in the tournament, India suffered a loss against South Africa.
