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Indian players have been working on their mental strength for a “long time” which should help the team in overcoming hurdles, says skipper Harmanpreet Kaur ahead of the upcoming women's T20 World Cup next month.

 

Women’s T20 World Cup will start on October 3 in the United Arab Emirates. It will end on October 20. 

 

India finished as a runner-up in the 2020 edition of the tournament. 

 

The team is now placed in Group A along with six-time winners and defending champions Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

Kaur said on Monday that the Indian players have been working on the mental aspect to bring out their best in crucial moments.

 

"We have been working on mental strength for a long time. The last 3-4 overs are the most crucial. T20 cricket is not a small format, at the end of the day, you are playing 40 overs," Kaur said.

 

"In the last 4-5 overs, the mentally strong team wins the match. We have been focusing on this for a while. If we can remain mentally stable in those final five overs, we can execute what’s best for us." 

 

Even in the Commonwealth Games 2022, Australia cut out a nine-run win to clinch the gold medal despite a spirited show with the bat from India in the final, with Kaur's team settling for the silver.

 

"We are working on those aspects, and hopefully, we will overcome this hurdle in the tournament," she added.

 

India's campaign begins on October 4 against New Zealand followed by the clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 6.

 

India, who lost to Sri Lanka in the women's Asia Cup final earlier this year, will compete against the island nation on October 9 and each of their first three group stage matches will be played in Dubai.

 

India's final group match against Australia will be played in Sharjah, UAE on October 13.

 

Kaur said the team is a combination of players from different states in the country allowing learning further.

 

"All the players in our team come from different states. It feels good when you see so many different characters in the team. People from various states share the dressing room, and you get to learn about their cultures,” she said. 

 

"I think you can only experience that in sports, not in any other career," Kaur added.