Kiran Navgire: Why India's six-hitting sensation failed to make the cut for Women's T20 World Cup

Kiran Navgire in action at Women's Asia Cup in 2022 (ACC/File Photo)

If we look at the dynamics in cricket, T20s are popular for extraordinary hitting. And with the Women's T20 World Cup underway it is hard to believe a batter, who is known for smashing towering sixes, is not part of India's squad. We are talking about Kiran Navgire, who's X-factor is her power-hitting abilities. Navgire instead was engaged in an off season camp organised by UP Warriorz, the team she represents in the Women's Premier League (WPL), where she was joined by few of her teammates.

When asked about not being part of India's World Cup plans, Navgire, a six-hitting sensation, honestly admits the areas where she could have performed better in the lead up to the marquee event. "I feel that when I traveled to Australia I should have played at least a couple of good knocks, unfortunately I managed just one. And even in WPL I think I should have scored more runs, somewhere around 250. So I missed out here and I will also have to work on fielding. I feel to play a tournament as big as the World Cup, we need to tick these boxes because a batter can either score or not score, but a fielder saves runs for the team. So I feel that these are the areas where I lacked a bit and I'm already working on it," the 30-year-old told moneycontrol.com in an exclusive interview.

Navgire had finished the Australia tour in August as the second-highest scorer from the India A unit, and fourth overall. She managed 62 runs from three outings at a strike-rate of 158.97, with 20-ball 38 being her best. Whereas in WPL 2024, Navgire put a modest show where she managed just one half-century and amassed 110 from eight encounters at a strike-rate of 146.66.

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Navgire may be a ferocious character when it comes to batting but outside the field she is a calm person, who doesn't like to talk much. Following the WPL season, a rather disappointing one for Navgire, she has put in a lot of work on her mental health.

"When there was a camp in Pune, I spent a week with a sports scientist. I discussed how to improve as start toh hopata hain par finish nahi milta (I start well but I'm not able to finish). I used to think of hitting a six after two dots but these thoughts are no longer there. I was told that I can take time initially and even if I've played two dots, I can always take a single and go to the non-striker end in the third, so that the other batter can cover it.

"I was also told by coaches in the camp that I should take time because I have the potential to change the game from any stage of the match," she explained.

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Navgire would love to open the innings for the UP Warriorz or even Team India but she is aware about the requirements, which is to become a strong finisher just like her idol MS Dhoni. "For two years in the domestic circuit I've been playing for Nagaland and I was opening there. So I think this position will allow me time and would love to open for the team. But every team has different requirements, like in WPL they need a finisher because for opening we have Alyessa Healy, who we all know is one of the best in the world. So I along with Grace (Harris) can do the job as finishers so I try to do best in that role.

"The Indian team also have Smriti (Mandhana) and Shafali (Verma) for opening, there's batters for the No. 2 and 3 slot, but No. 5 is vacant. So UP Warriorz is planning that if I can finish well then I may land up a spot in the national team and India too will also get a good finisher," she signed-off.