India is out of the Women T20 WC race as New Zealand beat Pakistan

India's aspirations for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 came to a sudden and disappointing halt as the team exited in the group stage for the first time in eight years. This heartbreaking conclusion to their tournament run was sealed during a nail-biting match against Australia, where India lost by just nine runs. Following this match, New Zealand's comprehensive victory over Pakistan confirmed India's elimination, leaving fans and players alike in shock.

India's group stage performance was underwhelming, finishing third in Group A with only four points. This outcome starkly contrasts previous tournaments, where the Indian women's team consistently reached at least the semifinals. The campaign began on a sour note with a substantial 58-run defeat to New Zealand, where the batting lineup faltered, and the bowlers struggled to contain the opposition. This set a challenging tone for the rest of their matches.

However, the Indian team showed resilience and bounced back with a much-needed six-wicket victory over Pakistan. In that match, Arundhati Reddy emerged as a standout performer, taking three crucial wickets and helping restrict Pakistan to a modest total. This win instilled hope among fans that the team could regain its footing in the tournament.

India followed up with another emphatic performance against Sri Lanka, securing an 82-run victory. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and opener Smriti Mandhana played pivotal roles, each contributing half-centuries to the total. This match highlighted India's potential and bolstered their confidence going into the critical encounter against Australia, where a win was essential for advancing to the semifinals.

Unfortunately, the highly anticipated match against Australia proved to be a turning point. Despite Harmanpreet's valiant effort, scoring 54 not out, the team fell short in their chase of 152 runs. The Australian bowlers put up a strong performance, making it challenging for the Indian batting lineup to capitalize on scoring opportunities. India's inability to convert their chances ultimately cost them dearly in this match.