Twitterati lash out at coach Ramesh Powar after Indian women crash out of World T20 2018

Till recently, Ramesh Powar was being seen as a man behind a group of successful women. The coach of the Women in Blue believed to have inculcated a positive spirit in each member of the outfit which headed to the Windies for the World T20. The side led by new captain Harmanpreet Kaur had a terrific campaign in the tournament, winning all the four games in the group to finish as the toppers.

But then came the tragedy. In the second semi-final played in North Sound on Thursday, Harmanpreet’s girls suffered an eight-wicket defeat against England after getting bowled out for only 112 inside 20 overs – their lowest score in the tournament. Heather Knight’s side had little difficulty winning the game in 17.1 overs losing just a couple of wickets.

Decision to drop Mithali Raj came under heavy scrutiny

The Indian team management faced strong criticism after losing the match particularly because of its decision to leave out Mithali Raj, the experienced batswoman who many believed was required in the game which was played on a not so easy wicket.

Mithali, the highest scorer for India in T20Is and also among the top batswomen in this format in the world, scored two half centuries in as many games she got to play in this tournament and that made the decision to drop her for the semi-final look startling for many, including former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar and cricket expert Harsha Bhogle.

Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur defended the decision to drop Mithali in the post-match presentation saying it was a move made in the team’s interest and it did not click. Mithali also sat out for India’s group game against Australia yet it was not made an issue since the game was inconsequential from India’s perspective. India also won the game convincingly and that might have made the team management confident of pulling it through without Mithali in the semi-final as well.

The Twitterati particularly slammed Powar for dropping Mithali for the crucial encounter with some even questioning the decision of making him the coach of a national side.

Here are some of the reactions for dropping Mithali Raj for the semi-final against England:

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

Last match for Ramesh Powar and @ImHarmanpreet as captain. 1st her despicable performance at the Asia Cup, then her fake degree row, now a grand show of incompetence! How can @BCCIWomen have her lead our country! @BCCI what are you waiting for?

— ANNISHA.TARA (@annishasays) November 23, 2018

Ramesh Powar pls resign 😡😤 #ENGvIND #INDWvENGW #INDvENG

— renny (@soo_kimsoeun) November 23, 2018

@ImHarmanpreet and Ramesh Powar giving stiff competition to @imVkohli & Ravi Shastri 😠 Worstuma dropping #mithaliraj

— Arul aakash (@Arulaakash) November 23, 2018

Sometime coaches thinks out of box but without assessing conditions and match situations their plans looks very very poor.. Ramesh Powar is made one such today by Dropping @M_Raj03
Chapell tried to do same in the past. #INDvENG #WWT20

— Mahesh Veer (@MV088) November 23, 2018

Same decision backfired. Ramesh powar just missed the trick by keeping best player out

— Jayesh Vengurlekar (@Ven11Jayesh) November 23, 2018

Ramesh Powar & Harman Preet Kour will take Responsblity for non Inclusion of Mitali Raj in T20 Match in Majour Match like Semifinals ? Resulting Shameful defeat . KKRao pic.twitter.com/xIAJjzGwjm

— k kumar rao (@kkrao3107K) November 23, 2018

Making Ramesh powar coach for a cricket team itself baffling, no wonder he makes such decision.. Hard luck for our girls..

— Sajan Hussain (@iamsajanhussain) November 23, 2018

With coaches like Ramesh Powar at the helm, Indian women can never be motivated to take up fast bowling. As they would know that there will only one fast bowler and 7 spinners in the playing eleven. Can we have Venkatesh Prasad or Anil Kumble to coach them?

— Rahul Nair (@de_nxt_gen) November 23, 2018

Ramesh Powar was not even the first choice Captain for Mumbai. How can we think of giving him the charge of our international team. #BCCI

— Swapnil (@swapnilk27) November 23, 2018

Was Ramesh Powar's decision to leave Mithali Raj out of the playing XI a huge tactical blunder? Agreed the pitch was difficult in the first innings, but Mithali would have been an asset in the middle order. Sad to see the way we lost. Congratulations to England.

— Sachin Kalbag (@SachinKalbag) November 23, 2018

After loosing from #England joint statement by #harmanpreetkaur & Ramesh Powar:#MithaliRaj was dropped as they wanted to increase the bench strength…As strongest player of team was on bench…😇 #INDvENG

— Ravi khatri (@Ravikhatrim) November 23, 2018

Who should be the head coach of @BCCIWomen instead of Ramesh Powar ??#INDvENG

— renny (@soo_kimsoeun) November 23, 2018

@M_Raj03 Remember the name @BCCIWomen! Absolutely horrible move today by Ramesh Powar @ImHarmanpreet by not playing her.
You guys should be sacked!!
Take that it has costed you the world cup#INDvENG #WT20

— Tusshar Mehta (@Tusshar_Mehta) November 23, 2018

So England team is cruising into the final thanks to the so called bold gamble by harmanpreet and coach Ramesh Powar by dropping an in- form player like Mithali, who is incidentally is the highest T20 run getter for India.

— N Jagannath Das_TT (@dassport_TT) November 23, 2018