‘I’m not putting any pressure on myself’: Harmanpreet Kaur ahead of Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka

NEW DELHI: India captain Harmanpreet Kaur wants her team to trust their strengths when they face Sri Lanka in the Women’s Asia Cup final on Sunday. India and Sri Lanka were the two best teams in the tournament and will now clash for the title. Harmanpreet believes there is very little between the two sides.“Whenever you play a match that is so important to win the tournament, on that day it’s all about playing to your strength and supporting your strength,” Harmanpreet said in the pre-final press conference.“Rather than trying too many things and thinking you’re going to do something extraordinary, it’s all about sticking to your strength, supporting yourself and trusting your feelings.”Sri Lanka had beaten India in the final of the previous edition two years ago. However, Harmanpreet does not see Sunday’s match as a battle between the stronger and the weaker team.

‘It’s all about playing good cricket’

Sri Lanka put in a strong performance in the 2024 final. India scored 165 but Sri Lanka chased down the target with eight wickets in hand.“The last time we played Sri Lanka, they came with really solid plans and solid performances. T20 is about whoever plays the best cricket on the day, wins,” she said.“There is no doubt that any team is stronger or that any team is smaller than anyone else. It’s all about playing good cricket on an important day.”

India happy with team effort

Harmanpreet was pleased with the way various players performed at different stages of the tournament.“Everyone in the team is very important and their contribution means a lot to us. It’s good to see whoever gets the opportunity put in some really solid performances,” she said.“Our batting unit put themselves in tough situations and still managed to get runs on the board, while whenever we’re rolling, our pitchers have had really solid performances.”

Doughs need to spend time bending

Harmanpreet admitted that batting on the Dubai surface was not easy. She said the Indian batsmen will have to spend some time at the crease before going for the big shots.“It’s a bit tough to bat on this pitch, but at the same time we need to back ourselves, back up our power. We know we have such a good batting line-up,” she said.“Whoever performs well on the day should take responsibility and finish the game for the team.”

The settled dough must take responsibility

Harmanpreet also praised Sri Lanka’s bowling attack and said their ability to execute their plans made them effective on the Dubai surface.“You really have to spend some time and then you can go for your shot. Whoever is balanced, that person has to take responsibility and play until the end,” she said.India will also have to deal with Sri Lankan opener Chamari Athapaththu, who can change the game quickly. Harmanpreet said that India will try to release her soon but will not focus solely on her.“We definitely want to take her wicket as soon as possible because we know how dangerous she is when she’s batting. We want to come up with some solid plans against her, not only against her but against all batsmen,” she said.

Harmanpreet wasn’t worried about the toss-up

Harmanpreet said she does not want to put pressure on herself for the toss as it is something the captain cannot control.“I don’t put any pressure on myself because throwing is something I can’t control. We’ve been playing here for almost two weeks. We know the conditions, the pitch and I think it’s all about trusting your plans, trusting your gut and backing it up,” she said.The India captain also wants her players to remain calm and avoid unnecessary mistakes in the final.“We saw that whenever we try to do something special or something extraordinary, we always make so many mistakes,” she said.“Tomorrow’s game is about confidence and trying to make less mistakes on the field. The team that makes less mistakes in an important game has more chances to win.”

India are hoping for strong fan support

Harmanpreet also hopes that the Indian fans will turn up in large numbers and give the team an extra boost during the finals.“They have been our biggest strength whenever we play. They come and cheer for us. They play a big role in our lives,” she said.“When the stadium is full, you feel more positive and want to do more for your team. They mean a lot to us and hopefully they will come to support the teams tomorrow.”