The battle for a semifinal berth in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 has intensified following India‘s first defeat of the tournament. At Old Trafford in Manchester, the Women in Blue fell to a clinical South Africa side by six wickets. Despite posting a competitive 158/7 after opting to bat, India failed to contain an explosive, unbeaten 81 from Proteas all-rounder Marizanne Kapp, who capitalized on multiple dropped catches in the field.
While the loss leaves India needing vital wins in their upcoming group fixtures to secure a knockout spot, legendary former speedster Jhulan Goswami remains firmly optimistic about the team’s trajectory and championship potential.
Jhulan Goswami throws her support behind Team India following tragic South Africa defeat
Analyzing the game with Rev Sportz, Goswami emphasized that while losing two points hurts, the team’s proactive philosophy is a massive silver lining. She highlighted the explosive opening intent shown by Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, who threw punches early against a high-quality South African pace attack. Verma’s quickfire 31 off 15 balls anchored a powerplay that saw India flying, though a series of mid-innings collapses ultimately capped their total below a projected 170-plus score.
Goswami also pointed out tactical masterstrokes that showed fearlessness from the team management, such as handing Verma the new ball to disrupt South Africa’s opening match-ups. However, the former captain didn’t shy away from addressing the elephant in the room: India’s fielding lapses. Marizanne Kapp was dropped twice during her match-winning knock, errors that completely shifted the momentum. Goswami noted that at the World Cup level, converting half-chances is non-negotiable, adding that tighter fielding would have completely altered the match’s destination.
“It wasn’t the result we were expecting, and unfortunately, we didn’t get those two points. But I think it’s important to focus on the positives as well. I liked India’s attitude and intent. From the beginning, the message was clear from Smriti and Shafali—they were going to attack South Africa’s quality pace bowlers. That intent was evident, and I really appreciated that approach.
Yes, India could have scored 170-plus, but unfortunately, wickets fell at regular intervals. The middle order got starts but couldn’t convert them into significant contributions. When you’re off to a good start, it’s important to finish strongly. Another positive was Shafali opening the bowling. That was a clear indication that the team management had specific match-ups in mind. It was a brave move. Although India didn’t win the match, there were several moments where they were brilliant. However, fielding was an area where India could have done much better. In T20 cricket, taking half-chances can make a huge difference. Had India taken those opportunities, the result could have been different,” Goswami said in an interview with Rev Sportz
Goswami hails Deepti Sharma ahead of potential record-breaking wicket milestone
Shifting focus to the upcoming pivotal clash against Bangladesh on June 25, Goswami threw her weight behind premier all-rounder Deepti Sharma. Deepti, who fought hard with a crucial 29 runs off 21 balls in the lower-middle order against South Africa, is currently on the cusp of an incredible international wicket milestone. Goswami marvelled at Deepti’s evolution, noting how she transformed from a conservative, young cricketer into an indispensable multi-format asset for India.
Recalling Deepti’s stellar, Player of the Series performance at the 50-over World Cup, Goswami backed her to break the milestone in the upcoming match. Praising her endless work ethic and appetite for high-pressure situations, Goswami expressed her ultimate wish to see the spin-bowling all-rounder eventually cross the historic 400 international wickets mark. For an Indian side looking to reset, bounce back, and chase down their maiden T20 World Cup crown, Goswami believes Deepti will remain the ultimate trump card.
“It would be an incredible achievement. When Deepti started, she was a very different player. Today, she is one of the most important members of the Indian team across all formats. She has been remarkably consistent. In the 50 overs Women’s World Cup, she was Player of the Series and finished as the highest wicket-taker. She knows how to take wickets and is always looking to improve her skills. She never says no to a challenge. Whenever the team needs a wicket, she’s willing to step up. Some days she succeeds, some days she doesn’t, but that’s cricket. I’m very happy that she’s approaching this milestone. Hopefully, she crosses it against Bangladesh. She has all my best wishes, and I hope this is just the beginning. I would love to see her go on and reach 400 international wickets,” she added
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
