'Should stop thinking about the wickets that have fallen' - Harmanpreet Kaur advised to play freely as India's semi-final spot hangs in balance

Out-of-favour fast bowler Shikha Pandey has advised India Women's captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, to play freely ahead of their Women's T20 World Cup 2026 match against Bangladesh on Thursday, June 25. Shikha believes that the strike rate at which Harmanpreet is making runs has been a concern for the Indian team in the global event, as they find themselves at a crucial juncture with their semi-final spot in question.

Shikha, who last played an international match in 2023, has said that the Indian skipper should look to promote herself up the batting order and send someone like Jemimah Rodrigues below her position. This will not only allow Harmanpreet to think less about rebuilding the innings but also help pile up runs at a relatively quicker pace.

"Harmanpreet Kaur's strike rate is a cause for concern for India's middle order. If a wicket falls early, we have seen Yastika Bhatia walk in, with Jemimah Rodrigues at number four. We might see Harman come in to bat at number four and Jemimah drop down to number five," Shikha said via JioStar.

Shikha is a big believer of the fact that Harmanpreet will be able to score runs at a better rate and on a consistent basis once she is well set, showing the dominating side of her batting. Ahead of the crucial fixture against Bangladesh, the Andhra Pradesh-born wants the Moga-born to look to settle herself in and score important runs for her side.

"But wherever she bats, Harman should stop thinking about the wickets that have fallen and not try to rebuild because we have seen that when Harmanpreet Kaur is on song, she is a completely different player altogether. Once she gets set, we'll see those straight drives and those shots over deep mid-wicket. She is excellent against spinners, so if she can just get set, it will be great for India," she added.

Harmanpreet will be leading the Women in Blue against the neighbouring nation in a match that will be played at Old Trafford, Manchester.