Wanted a break after 2018 T20 World Cup controversy, says Harmanpreet Kaur
Harmanpreet Kaur, the the India women’s T20I skipper, has stated the she wanted to walk away from the game after the controversies in the 2018 World T20. Mithali Raj did not find a place in the semi-finals despite a recovery from an injury and the skipper was blamed for the loss.
India were on a roll in the 2018 Women’s T20 World Cup as they had secured three back to back victories in the league games. ODI skipper and the most experienced player Mithali Raj was deemed unfit for the side’s final league game against Australia but India still went on to win the game by 48 runs, making it four out of four.
She was fit in time before the semi-finals against England but was overlooked by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. India went on to lose the game after being all out for 112. The skipper was widely criticised for her move to drop Mithali and this issue went to create quite a storm. The T20 series and ODI series in February was India’s next assignment after the marquee event but Harmanpreet had sprained her left foot in the T20 series. She was unable to take part in the one dayers that followed but reckons that it was a blessing in disguise.
“I was at the National Cricket Academy [in Bengaluru] from February 22 to April 9, and that break was a blessing in disguise for me. Because it gave me a much-needed break from international cricket and the Indian dressing room. I had almost made up my mind to let my parents know that I wanted to take a break. I don't want to hold on to a spot in the Indian team just because I am a senior player. I wanted to get away from cricket.
"Whatever happened around the team before that was immensely draining for me. Some of the things said were so far from reality that I felt, "I need to step away from this madness for a while. I'm here to play cricket. If people want to drag me into unnecessary things, drag the team into unnecessary things, I have to stop trying to reason with them,” Harmanpreet expressed, reported Cricinfo.
Mithali’s manager had accused Harmanpreet of being a manipulative captain whereas the then head coach Ramesh Powar had termed the ODI skipper as a difficult person. There were cryptic exchanges between the coach and Mithali on Twitter too and the situation had become even worse. Kaur even went on to say that she had stopped enjoying the game after the allegations that were against her.
“I spent hours alone, asking myself, "Why do I play sport?" "Because I enjoy it, because playing cricket is the only thing I've ever done in life." Agar khelke mazaa nahi aa raha hai [If I'm not enjoying the game] then I don't want to block a place in the side, because money is not everything. Yes, we've only just started making some money from playing cricket, but if cricket is not giving me joy, I am happy to walk away rather than hold on to that spot just because I have a Grade A contract. So all of these thoughts were bothering me a lot. Mentally I was unwell, unfit, but that injury bailed me out of that terrible head space,” she explained.
The Punjab player opened up on her experience in the dressing room environment of the Indian side as well.
“There have been several times since 2016 where I have been asked by the support staff to go up to people and say sorry, just to keep the dressing-room environment all right. And I have done that, without getting an answer about what I am saying sorry for. But, no, it's like, "Harry, just try and sort it out for the sake of the team." But kitni baar sorry boloon [How many times should I apologise]? Meri insult hoti hai, mere upar meeting hoti hai, aur ulta sorry bhi bolna hai toh woh mujhe bolna hai [I'm the one who's being insulted and even then I should be the one apologising]? Isn't that funny? But I've been like, "If the team environment gets better because of my saying sorry, I'll do it." And I've done it. Ask the people I've apologised to and they will tell you whether or not I have,” she explained.
“But this time I was like, "No, I've had enough." These false allegations are way too mindless for me to lose my sleep over. If certain situations are not meant to get better, you cannot fix them, no matter how many apologies you offer. The wiser thing to do is just step away from all that mess and calm yourself,” signed off the 30-year-old.
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