Team India registered a close loss by just 5 runs in the semi-final of the Women’s T20 World Cup on Friday against Australia. India’s shoddy fielding and catching allowed Australia to reach a tricky score of 172 for four after Meg Lanning opted to bat. India needed a very gettable 39 off the last 30 balls with five wickets in hand but as it has been the case in the past, the team came up short to finish at 167 for eight.

Following the match, the Indian team received support from fans and former cricketers for their gritty fightback against the world no. 1 side, which has reached the final of every edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup in every edition of the tournament. However, India’s former captain, Diana Edulji has been very critical of Harmanpreet Kaur for her seeming lack of effort that resulted in her run-out, and also criticized Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues for their shot selection.

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During a chat with PTI, DIan Edulji said, “She is thinking the bat got stuck but if you see the second run she was jogging. Why are you running in a relaxed manner when you know when your wicket is so important? You have to play professional cricket to win. Look at the dive Perry made to save those two runs. That is what professionalism is.”

Harmanpreet’s run-out turned the game on its head. The Indian lower-middle order succumbed under pressure after Harman’s run-out against the run of play. Edulji recalled advice from the legendary Sunil Gavaskar to criticize Harmanpreet for the run-out.

Diana Edulji said, “They don’t give up till the end and we are not ready to fight at all. You can’t be falling at the last hurdle all the time. She was casual on the second run. She thought she would comfortably reach. We were told in the 1970s by Mr. Sunil Gavaskar that every ball you have to learn to ground your bat then only you get into that habit. Her bat was in the wrong hand (left). If she held it in the right hand, she would have been able to stretch herself and complete the run.”

Harmanpreet, for her part, expressed her disappointment for getting run out like that.

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While talking to the reporters, Harmanpreet Kaur said, “It was a disappointment because the way I was batting, maybe that was the only chance to know how I can get out. Otherwise, the way I was meeting the ball, I know how to take this inning till the end. But sometimes it happens in cricket and we have to accept whatever happens. But otherwise, I am happy the way we played cricket throughout this tournament. We saw some really good performances like Richa did.”