All hell broke loose after the Indian women's cricket team lost their third match in a row in the Women's ODI World Cup on Sunday, October 19. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side faltered in a chase of 289 runs on a flat batting pitch at Indore's Holkar Stadium, falling just 4 runs short in what could have been a crucial victory.

A wave of criticism followed the team’s successive losses to South Africa, Australia, and England — all on home soil, during a highly anticipated World Cup campaign. While the team still has a mathematical chance to reach the top four, fans and commentators alike were quick to label their performances as “meek” and “uninspired,” particularly pointing to how the team let games slip from winning positions.

Criticism, of course, is part and parcel of competitive sport. H

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