Five wicket hero Deepti Sharma reveals the dressing room message that sparked Pakistan’s collapse…reports Asian Lite News Desk
India all-rounder Deepti Sharma has revealed the simple but effective mindset that inspired her match-winning performance against Pakistan in India’s opening game of the Women’s T20 World Cup, saying bowlers were encouraged to “forget what happened in the previous over” and focus on the next opportunity.
Deepti starred with a sensational five-wicket haul as India staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Pakistan after the latter had made a strong start in their chase. The experienced spinner said the team remained calm despite early pressure and trusted its collective strengths.
“It’s difficult to pick one moment because everything I was able to do in this game was special, but I’ll go with the five-wicket haul. It’s very rare in an ICC tournament to pick up a fifer and end up winning the game for your team,” Deepti told JioStar.
Reflecting on the first drinks break, she said the discussions centred on belief and backing the team’s quality.
“The discussion was about stepping up a little because we know the quality of talent and players we have in our side. Even if you go for runs in one over, it doesn’t matter because you’ll get a chance to make a comeback in the next,” she said.
According to Deepti, the coaching staff and leadership group repeatedly stressed the importance of staying positive and focusing on execution.
“Everyone stayed positive, and the same message was passed on to every bowler—to stay on their toes, focus on what they could do better in the next over, and forget what happened in the previous one,” she added.
The approach paid off as India’s spin attack tightened its grip on the contest and triggered a dramatic collapse that swung the match decisively in India’s favour.
Deepti also highlighted the importance of mentoring younger bowlers such as Shreyanka Patil and Shree Charani, urging them to trust their strengths in pressure situations.
“My message to the youngsters is to stick to what has been working for them. Read the conditions and, if you feel your best ball or your best plans can bring you success on that wicket, then back them. If you execute your plans with self-belief, success will eventually come,” she said.
The victory was also marked by an impressive fielding display, something India had specifically worked on during a pre-World Cup camp at the Centre of Excellence.
“Before the T20 World Cup, we worked extensively on our fielding and fitness. We wanted to improve day by day in those areas, and I’m glad all that effort showed today,” Deepti said.
She praised several crucial catches during Pakistan’s innings, including efforts from Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues.
“They weren’t the easiest catches. It’s great to see the team putting in that kind of effort, and I’m feeling very positive about the team going ahead,” she said.
Known for delivering on the big stage, Deepti said her approach remains consistent regardless of the opposition.
“I enjoy ICC tournaments, and this was our first game, so I wanted to start well. It’s not as though we were playing against Pakistan and came in with a different mindset. I approach every game with the same mindset,” she said.
Looking ahead to India’s next group-stage match against the Netherlands at Headingley in Leeds, Deepti believes the team’s recent tour of England will help them adapt quickly to local conditions.
“Fortunately, we had a series in England before the World Cup, so we already have some understanding of the conditions. We’ll take the positives from this game into the next one,” she said.
India will face the Netherlands on Wednesday at Headingley as they seek to build on their winning start to the tournament.
