India are off to a forgettable start in the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 as they lost their opening game against New Zealand by 58 runs in Dubai. Batting first, The Blackcaps posted a total of 160/4 with skipper Sophie Devine scoring an unbeaten 57. Later, Team India got bundled out for 102 as Rosemary Mair registered a four-wicket haul. This match had a big controversial moment when batter Amelia Kerr was declared not out on a run out appeal, prompting India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur to indulge in a heated discussion with the umpires.
After facing the defeat, Harmanpreet admitted that her side did not give it's best in the opening game and will look forward for improvement.
"We didn't play our best cricket today. Going forward we have to think what areas we have to improve. Every game now is important and we have to play our best cricket. We created chances, it's not like that we didn't create. They played better cricket than us, no doubt about that," Harmanpreet said after the match.
"This is such a high stage where you can't make these mistakes. We have chased 160-170 many times. But on that pitch .. it was 10-15 runs too many. At one stage, the way they started, I was thinking it would be 180. This wasn't the start we were expecting (in this tournament)," she added.