Home
As Mithali Raj-led India hope to do one better than the previous edition of World Cup, their preparations have not been ideal. After the loss in one-off T20I, India have lost four consecutive ODIs in New Zealand. While the batting has impressed in a couple of games, their bowling has been far from impressive to an extent that Mithali has said that it is a concern going into the mega event.
"Definitely have been trying a few combinations with the seam and spin attack. Bowling attack is a concern going into the World Cup," Mithali said at post-match presentation ceremony.
"We are adapting to the conditions and to the open ground and the breeze. We have not been very consistent in our bowling spells. I was just looking at Richa's shots and she is a talented and exciting player for the future for India," the veteran added.
In the rain-curtailed 20 overs per side game on February 22 at John Davies Oval, Queenstown, Indian bowlers conceded 191 runs after Mithali won the toss and elected to field first. Two of Indian bowlers leaked more than 40 runs.
Mithali was impressed with the performance of wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh in the unsuccessful run chase. Richa scored 52 runs from 29 deliveries including four fours and as many sixes. She reached her half-century from 26 deliveries which is the fastest fifty by an Indian batter in women ODIs. She walked in to bat when India had lost four wickets for 19 runs in the run chase.
The 39-year-old also backed her most experienced campaigner, Jhulan Goswami, who will be playing her last World Cup.
"Jhulan Goswami was by my side in 2005 and has been an ever-present member of the Indian team in all those years since, she has amassed 240 wickets in ODIs, 60 more than anyone else and luckily shows no signs of slowing down,” she wrote in her column for the ICC.
"We both so badly want to win an ICC World title before we call it a day!
"We have, of course, been joined by so many talented youngsters in recent years. There is huge talent in India and I am sure the next crop of players is already inspiring thousands and thousands of girls out there to pick up the bat or ball," she further wrote.
