Women's T20 World Cup Points Table 2024: IND-W below PAK-W Despite Win, Experts Blast Strategy in Chase as NRR fails to improve

IND-W vs PAK-W: India's six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 in Dubai may have secured two crucial points, but experts were left unimpressed with their approach during the chase.

Despite a relatively low target of 106, India's slow batting pace meant they missed a golden opportunity to improve their net run rate (NRR), which was sitting at a dismal -2.90 before the match.

Women s T20 World Cup 2024 Points Table — India's batting and two dropped catches left experts and fans frustrated

Women's T20 World Cup Points Table 2024

Group A	M	W	L	NRR	Pts
1. NZ-W	1	1	0	+2.900	2
2. AU-W	1	1	0	+1.908	2
3. PAK-W	2	1	0	+1.550	2
4. IND-W	2	1	1	-1.217	2
5. SL-W	2	0	2	-1.667	0

Group B	M	W	L	NRR	Pts
1. EN-W	1	1	0	+1.050	2
2. SA-W	1	1	0	+0.773	2
3. BAN-W	2	1	1	-0.125	2
4. WI-W	1	0	1	-0.773	0
5. SCO-W	1	0	1	-0.800	0

Glossary: M - Match, W - Win, L - Loss, NRR - Net Run Rate, Pts - Points

Note: 1. The top two from each group will qualify for the semifinals; 2. NRR will come into play if two teams are tied on the same points

India's win was largely due to the bowling brilliance of Arundhati Reddy (3 for 19) and Shreyanka Patil (2 for 12), who restricted Pakistan to 105 for 8. Nida Dar's 28 was the highest contribution for Pakistan, but they struggled on a slow, spin-friendly pitch. India's spinners, particularly Reddy and Patil, exploited the conditions well to ensure Pakistan didn't cross the 110-run mark.

However, it was India's chase that drew criticism. Although Shafali Verma's 32 and Harmanpreet Kaur's unbeaten 29 were instrumental in securing the win, the team took 19 overs to reach the target. Shafali's 35-ball knock was steady but lacked aggression, while Harmanpreet, though effective, was the only batter with a strike rate over 100 among the top six. India hit only four boundaries in their entire innings, reflecting the conservative approach that stifled their run-scoring potential.

At the post-match presentation, Smriti Mandhana, speaking for the injured Harmanpreet Kaur, acknowledged the team's focus on preserving wickets over chasing the target quickly. "Better start with the bat would have been good, but we will take that win," she said. "We did think about [the NRR], but didn't want to lose wickets."

Experts, including Sanjay Manjrekar and Poonam Yadav, were surprised by India's decision not to send Richa Ghosh higher up the order. Known for her aggressive hitting, Ghosh came in at No. 5, when the match had already slowed down. Jemimah Rodrigues' 23 off 28 balls also added to the sluggish pace, and Smriti herself could only manage 7 off 16 as an opener, further stifling India's momentum.

While India's victory kept them in contention, their cautious approach means they remain below Pakistan on the points table, as their NRR failed to improve significantly. As India gears up to face Sri Lanka on October 9, experts believe a more aggressive batting strategy will be crucial if they hope to make an impact in the tournament.