Muzumdar urges India to ‘stay in the present’ after T20 World Cup malfunction

Moving Past the T20 World Cup Disappointment

The aftermath of a major tournament exit is never easy for any professional sports team. For the Indian women’s cricket team, the recent T20 World Cup journey ended abruptly after failing to progress past the ‘group of death,’ following defeats to heavyweights South Africa and Australia. Despite the external noise and debates surrounding team combinations and captaincy, head coach Amol Muzumdar has set a clear tone for his squad: look ahead, not behind.

Muzumdar urges India to ‘stay in the present’ after T20 World Cup malfunction, a philosophy he believes is crucial as the team prepares for their next monumental challenge. The focus has now shifted entirely to the upcoming historic first-ever women’s Test match at Lord’s this Friday. In his discussions with the team, Muzumdar emphasized the importance of mental fortitude. “What is gone, we cannot change it. We have discussed about it within the squad,” he stated. “All we need to do is look forward and prepare the best we can for the event ahead. Just leave aside the disappointment and get into the present.”

Embracing the Lord’s Occasion

Test cricket in the women’s game remains a rarity, making the opportunity to play at Lord’s exceptionally special. While England has not featured in a Test since January 2025, India enters this match following their recent encounter in Perth. For Muzumdar, the significance of playing at the ‘Home of Cricket’ cannot be overstated.

“The first-ever World Cup win was special. The first-ever Test match at Lord’s will be special,” Muzumdar noted, reflecting on the growth of the women’s game. “Just looking forward to the next four to five years, what women’s cricket will bring. You never know. The more we do it, the more people turn up, the more popular the women’s game becomes, the better it is for everyone.”

The Challenge of Format Adaptation

The transition from the fast-paced nature of T20 cricket to the patient grind of the red-ball game is a significant hurdle for modern players. The BCCI’s efforts to reintroduce multi-day domestic competitions have been a step in the right direction, though some analysts argue the scheduling—often following the WPL—limits its impact. Currently, the squad features limited exposure to these red-ball domestic conditions, with only a few players having recent experience in that format.

However, Muzumdar remains optimistic about the team’s adaptability. When questioned about the lack of red-ball incentives, he defended the professional mindset of his players. “If you’re a professional cricketer, I personally feel that it just should be a click in your mind about playing red-ball cricket and white-ball cricket. There’s not much of a difference,” he explained. “Red-ball cricket is always exciting, and it brings different challenges. You’ve got to bowl 100 overs, and it’s a four-day game. Different challenges, different excitement, different abilities come to the fore.”

Looking Toward the Future

With another Test match scheduled against South Africa later this year, the calendar is slowly becoming more inclusive of the longer format. For Muzumdar, an self-proclaimed ‘old timer’ when it comes to the beauty of the five-day or four-day game, the enthusiasm within the dressing room is palpable. Despite the T20 World Cup malfunction, the atmosphere surrounding the team’s preparation for Lord’s has been one of focus and anticipation.

The players are not just treating this as another game; they are embracing the opportunity to showcase their technical prowess and endurance on one of the world’s most hallowed stages. As the team gears up for the first ball on Friday, the mandate remains: move on from the past, focus on the red-ball dynamics, and cherish the historic nature of the event.