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The stage is set for ICC Women's World Cup 2022, where teams are gearing to clinch the coveted trophy. Last World Cup's runner-up India will also look to end their World Cup title drought under the captainship of Mithali Raj, who will be playing her sixth ICC marquee tournament. During a virtual press conference on Saturday (February 26), Mithali confirmed Harmanpreet Kaur as the new vice captain for the upcoming 50-over World Cup which is slated to commence from March 4.
“Deepti being picked as the vice-captain for the last two ODIs was the choice of the selectors and the BCCI. Harmanpreet is the vice-captain for the World Cup,” said Mithali.
Earlier, Deepti Sharma was named the vice-captain of the Indian women’s team in the last two ODI matches against New Zealand which the Women in Blue lost the series 1-4.
Ahead of the India's World Cup campaign, Mithali advises youngsters to enjoy the World Cup without any pressure.
India miserably lost to New Zealand in the ODI series ahead of the marquee event. To avoid the whitewash, senior batters Smriti Mandhana (71), Harmanpreet (63) and Mithali (54 not out) played instrumental knocks to help the team register a six-wicket win against the White Ferns in the final ODI on February 24.
Mithali, who will hang her boots after the World Cup, asked the youngsters of the Indian team to not take too much pressure and enjoy the tournament and said the New Zealand ODIs were important for their World Cup preparations.
“The only advice I would tell the young players is to enjoy the big stage because if you pile up the pressure you may not be playing the best that the team and you would want to do in the World Cup,” Mithali said.
“The batting department has come together, the bowling unit has taken a bit of time, we did not have a camp in India because of the rising COVID-19 cases, so this series against New Zealand was important in terms of preparation for the World Cup,” she added.
Meanwhile, with hosts New Zealand taking on the West Indies in the inaugural game at the Bay Oval in Tauranga, the tournament will be played in a single league format with the eight qualified teams taking on each side once in the group stage. The Indian team led by Mithali Raj will start their campaign with a contest against their archrivals Pakistan on March 6.
India's squad for WC: Mithali Raj (Captain), Harmanpreet Kaur (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Deepti Sharma, Smriti Mandhana, Sneh Rana, Richa Ghosh (wicket-keeper), Taniya Bhatia (wicket-keeper), Jhulan Goswami, Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav and Renuka Singh Thakur.
