World Cup Mindset: Amanjot Kaur’s Calm Approach to Pressure Play

Facing the challenge of batting in your first World Cup when your team is struggling can be intimidating, especially after a break of over two months from competitive matches. However, for Amanjot Kaur, this was not the case.

“I get more anxious than she does. I kept reminding her, ‘You’re going to play in the World Cup.’ Her response was always, ‘Don’t worry, sir, it’s just another match. I’ll be fine.’ That’s her mindset,” shared Nagesh Gupta, the all-rounder’s coach, during the innings break of India’s opening match against Sri Lanka at the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025.

In the weeks leading up to her impressive knock of 57 off 56 balls, Amanjot faced a familiar challenge. A recurring niggle, connected to a previous back stress fracture that sidelined her for over six months the previous year, resurfaced. She had to go through rehabilitation yet again and maintain her positive outlook, hoping to secure a spot in the home World Cup squad.

“Going through this process with her has almost become routine. She’s accustomed to dealing with injuries. That’s often the plight of fast-bowling all-rounders; they are prone to injuries due to their demanding roles,” Gupta explained to Sportstar.

“She stuck to her rehab regimen, and I focused on keeping her mentally strong. She believed she could recover in time for the World Cup, and she accomplished that,” he added.

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Fast forward to the ACA Stadium in Guwahati on September 30: Amanjot delivered the performance anticipated by her coach, emerging as a crucial player in the No. 8 batting position. She scored her first ODI half-century and formed a vital partnership with Deepti Sharma, helping to stabilize India’s innings after Sri Lanka’s aggressive bowling attack posed a serious threat.

“Her batting position often means she’ll either enter the game when India is struggling or in a strong position. In the former case, she needs to play judiciously; in the latter, she must accelerate. I hope she excels in either scenario,” said Gupta.

He also highlighted Amanjot’s growth in handling pressure, citing her recent successes in England, where she made her maiden T20I half-century, and in the Women’s Premier League.

“India was in trouble at 124 for 6, and when she came to bat, she demonstrated poise and composure. You can approach such situations in two ways: retreat into your shell or keep the scoreboard ticking, which both she and Deepti Sharma managed extremely well,” noted Gupta.

After contributing to India’s total of 269 in a rain-affected match, Amanjot bowled six overs before returning to join her teammates in the dressing room late in the match.

“With India fielding just five bowlers, her role as a bowler becomes crucial, and I hope she matches her batting performance with the ball,” Gupta commented before Sri Lanka’s innings. Amanjot succeeded in taking the wicket of Vishmi Gunaratne, although her bowling was somewhat costly with figures of 1 for 37 in six overs.

Published on Oct 01, 2025