As the Commonwealth Games 2022 is nearing to its conclusion, all eyes are now set on the final of women’s cricket at the Edgbaston. The Indian women cricket team led by Harmanpreet Kaur, are through to the finals after defeating hosts England by 4 runs in what turned out to be a thrilling semifinal. The team they will play against will be decided in the second semifinal between Australia and New Zealand.

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Here’s a look at the SWOT analysis of the Women in Blue has they play the historic final on August 7, 2022:

Strengths: Batting

Eventhough without legendary batter Mithali Raj, Indian women team had one of the best batting line ups entering the Games. Smriti Mandhana is in red hot form, and in the last match, broke the record of quickest half century by Indian women, by reaching 50 in just 23 balls. Kaur also scored big in the first match against Australia. Even though Shafali Verma hasn’t been her usual aggressive self this tournament, she knocked 43 off just 27 balls in the match against West Indies. Jemimah Rodriguez also recorded a fifty vs Barbados. In the finale, India would like their lineup to again work their charm.

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Weaknesses: Fast Bowling

Even though India women’s bowling especially, fast bowling department has made great strides in the last few months, it is still their weaker than many of their counterparts. India has some world class spinners but they don’t have a luxury of bowlers having sheer pace like Megan Schutt or Shabnam Ismail. If India wants to win the tournament Renuka Singh, Pooja Vastrakar and Meghna Singh will have to punch above their weights.

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Opportunities: Chance to win the first international women cricket tournament 

After winning the semifinal against England, India ended their jinx of the losing knockouts. In three recent ICC tournaments, they came agonisingly close, but Kaur’s girls have now crossed that threshold. Although they did advance to the T20 World Cup 2020 final, it was after the semifinal was rained out. To understand how big this opportunity it is for the Women in Blue, it may be noted that this was the first victory for India in a women’s T20I knockout match other than an Asia Cup. Eventhough they have now been assured of a medal, they would like it to be gold.

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Threats: Failure to act in pressure situations

Harmanpreet had asked the squad during a meeting on the team’s final assignment in Sri Lanka prior to the Commonwealth Games about areas they needed to improve. Vastrakar had responded with, “Killer attitude.” And that is not only women but Indian men teams’ problem as well. Even in the semifinal win against England, Deol dropped a catch in the last over; Mandhana got out playing a scoop just after Verma lost her wicket; A poor captaincy decision of giving Shafali Verma the 16th over, if though Vastrakar (who till then had an economy less than 7) had two overs left. Eventhough India crossed the line in this match, it may not be the same in the final.

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Indian women squad:

Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Yastika Bhatia(w), Jemimah Rodrigues, Sabbhineni Meghana, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Harleen Deol Radha Yadav, Deepti Sharma, Shafali Verma, Pooja Vastrakar, Smriti Mandhana, Taniya Bhatia, Meghna Singh, Renuka Singh, Sneh Rana