Ex-chief selector wants Harmanpreet to make one big change in India's playing XI after win over Pakistan

Former India chief selector Hemlata Kala wants Yastika Bhatia in the playing eleven for the next match and improvement in the fielding department. Despite the commanding win over Pakistan at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on June 14, Hemlata feels that Yastika should be in the side irrespective of her batting position. She pointed out to the southpaw’s recent form. 

"I would like to see Yastika in the playing eleven. She doesn't have to play one down necessarily. She can play in the middle-order also and we should use her, she also did well in the recent series against England," Hemlata told PTI.

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The team management trusted Bharti Fulmali over Yastika against Pakistan. Bharti was expected to push the scoring rate towards the end but she departed for a single-digit score.

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Yastika’s recent form

25-year-old Yastika scored 119 runs including a fifty in the three-T20I series against England but her strike rate came under the scanner. She was even retired out in the second T20I's run chase. In the warm-up games against West Indies and England, she contributed with scores of 36 and 15 respectively.

Who batted at no.3 vs Pakistan?

In the clash against Pakistan, Jemimah Rodrigues batted at no.3. Jemimah scored just one run from seven deliveries and lost her wicket to Tasmia Rubab. Bharti got stumped for a single run from three balls off Sadia Iqbal's bowling.

Who will India face next?

India's next match is against Netherlands at Headingley, Leeds, on June 17. India are expected to win the match against the Dutch side who lost to Bangladesh by six wickets in their campaign opener. India need to win three more games to confirm their spot in the semifinals. India's first major Test will be on June 21 when they go up against South Africa at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester.

No dearth of power-hitting

While former India men's cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin feels that the current team lacks power-hitting and may not go far in the tournament, Hemlata feels that there is plenty of big-hitters in the side. She considers fielding as the weakest link. She also ruled out the notion that India are over-reliant on their openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma.