Former India cricketer Shubhangi Kulkarni has urged the Indian women's cricket team to improve on two aspects if they are to achieve glory in the upcoming Women's ODI World Cup in March. Shubhangi, a member of the Asian Cricket Committee and member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) women's committee, has directed the Indian Women's team to focus on dot balls and running between the wickets. She has also pointed out that the Indian middle-order needs to take the initiative if they are to move in the right direction.
“The two areas which have been a cause for concern while batting for all these years — the number of dot balls and running between the wickets -– needs to be addressed. We don’t always need to play the big shots. If we keep getting the ones and twos and wait for the loose delivery to get the big ones, we can easily get a good total. Rotating the strike is absolutely necessary,” Shubhangi toldNews18.
According to Shubhangi, inexperienced batters like Richa Ghosh and Yastika Bhatia can be handy customers for the team.
“If India has to win the Cup, each and every one has to play their role. As far as batting is concerned, we will be looking at Smriti Mandhana, Mithali, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Deepti Sharma to lead the pack with their experience. Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh and Yastika Bhatia are a bit inexperienced, but they have shown huge potential. Harman has played some outstanding innings in the earlier World Cups and this time too it will be expected of her to strengthen the middle order which has not been consistent in the last few series," the 62-year-old said when speaking about the middle-order batters.
The Indian Women's team will have to be at their fluent best, as key members of the squad like Punam Raut, Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey are not part of the contingent that will travel to New Zealand. Veterans Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami with over two decades of experience, will have to use all the tools in the arsenal to guide India through in their last attempt at the coveted trophy.
“The World Cup is a huge stage and I feel we need the experience particularly on reaching the last stage. Jhulan Goswami (medium pacer) has been exceptional, and we will depend on her to give us the initial breakthroughs, but on the New Zealand pitches, we will need the other medium pacers to perform. Our spinners are experienced and have done the job in the past, and we expect them to play their roles in this World Cup as well. Pooja Vastrakar and Sneh Rana can contribute with the bat as well. I would go with a specialist keeper – Taniya Bhatia – to take advantage of whatever chances come our way to put pressure on the opposition,” she concluded, underlining the importance of the experienced players.
Recently, Indian opener Smriti Mandhana was named ICC Women's cricketer of the Year for 2021 while Harmanpreet Kaur was named as the 'Player of the Tournament' in Women's Big Bash League (WBBL). This will be a welcome addition for Team India Ahead of the World Cup.
The Indian team is scheduled to play five ODIs and one T20I before the mega event. The Indian campaign gets underway on March 6 against arch-rivals Pakistan at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganumi. The Mithali Raj-led side finished runners-up in the 2017 edition, losing to hosts England in the final.
