Former players stumped by Mithali's omission

India crashed out of the World Twenty20 after losing its semifinal clash against England by 8 wickets.

Mithali Raj had scored two fifties in the previous matches of this World T20 tournament.

Former India captain and mainstay Mithali Raj spent an agonising three hours in the dug out watching her teammates succumb in the World T20 semifinal against England. After being dropped for the big-ticket clash, which raised a lot of eyebrows, India suffered a dramatic middle-order collapse and was ousted from the World T20.

Where was Mithali missed?

Mithali scored two half-centuries in the tournament — against Pakistan and Ireland — with a strike rate of 119 and 91 respectively. She also shared vital partnerships with the middle and lower order and often stayed till the business end to see the team through.

On Friday, when India lost its last eight wickets for just 23 runs, Mithali's experience was missed. The talismanic batswoman had been a part of big ticket matches in the past — the ODI World Cup final in 2005, 2017, the World T20 semifinals in 2009 and 2010 — and her presence in the middle would have had a calming effect.

Read: No regrets, says Harmanpreet on Mithali Raj’s omission

Also, batting first meant, India was up against some astute England bowling on a pitch that wasn't particularly easy for the batters to get going. Mithali's experience could have come handy here.

India's middle and lower order weren't exactly firing. Veda Krishnamurthy was going through a lean patch and the likes of Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues and Taniya Bhatia weren't firing as much as they would have loved to. Dayalan Hemalatha and Deepti Sharma's search for the purple patch was well continuing into the business end of the tournament and Mithali's presence could have worked in India's favour.

Reactions

India paid the price for two mistakes. One in planning, by dropping Mithali on this pitch. The other in execution, by rushing down the pitch to muscle the ball in front of the pitch on a very slow pitch.#ICCWWT20

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) November 23, 2018

As Sanjay Manjrekar pointed out, India was guilty of playing rash shots. Veda and Harmanpreet went for the big ones and were caught high and dry while Anuja Patil's decision to clear the park off the first ball wasn't exactly the right decision. Hemalatha's power packed drive lacked the required power while Jemimah's lack of concentration did her in.

Can understand, if you have to, that you leave out Mithali in a 180 game. But on a tough pitch? Then you play your best players and she is that. https://t.co/n3bbSodiC6

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 23, 2018

Harsha Bhogle also underlines Mithali's experience in a crunch game.

I've been saying for a while the Mithali Raj should be batting in the middle order in T20Is for India, not opening. Ramesh Powar has gone a step further today, leaving her out altogether, and continuing to be bold.

What a statement. #WT20

— Snehal Pradhan (@SnehalPradhan) November 22, 2018

Former India player Snehal Pradhan underlined the importance of playing Mithali Raj in the middle order and her absence proved to be costly for India.

England played their 'A' game today and batted and bowled really well. Losing 8 wickets for 23 runs did us in. Best wishes to the England team for the @worldt20 finals. #WWT20#WT20#INDvENGpic.twitter.com/cPKZxwqqCy

— VINOD KAMBLI (@vinodkambli349) November 23, 2018

Former India batsman Vinod Kambi underlined the batting collapse and congratulated the England team.