india women's national cricket team players | World Cup 2019 | ICC
The new-look Indian women’s cricket team is keen on leaving behind the ghost of three semi-finals of T20 World Cup in 2009, 2010 and 2018. Statistically, this time around, India look promising and can face defending champions Australia in the final to be played on March 8 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Raj stepped away from T20I cricket last year while Goswami previously played in the format before the last ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, leaving India without arguably their best batter and bowler of this generation.
Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami represent major absentees in India’s ranks but captain Harmanpreet Kaur is backing her youngsters to fill the legends’ void.
The Women in Blue will begin their campaign against Australia — four-time World Cup winner — in the tournament opener at the Sydney Showground Stadium on Friday.
As part of the transition, the average age of their squad in Australia is 22.8 – with Kaur recognising the importance of her own switch in role from young talent to elder stateswoman.
“We already miss the experience they share with us, but these young girls and showing their talent and ability,” said the 29-year-old, speaking at the captains’ media day at Taronga Zoo, Sydney.
“The team is looking in really good shape and showing what they can do with extra responsibility. They never show us that they’re young, they can always do what we expect of them. “In the last two years it’s really changed – I’ve gone from being the youngest one to one of the oldest in the team.
“The tri-series with England and Australia was a good stage for us to prepare ourselves very well and we’re ready to give our best to try and win for our country. Our team is growing day by day, everyone is looking so positive.”
Kaur, who was part of that side thar finished runners-up in the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2017, is well aware of what a long run in an ICC tournament can do for her country.
And with the growing success of domestic competitions such as Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League, she is hopeful that India can soon enjoy their own breakthrough and take the domestic game to the next level.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur is equipped with strength and resilience playing her seventh T20 World Cup since her debut in 2009 in the shorter format. The 30-year-old is the lone survivor from the star-studded 2009 Indian squad.
“Over the last two years, we have already had a few games as part of the Women’s T20 Challenge and this year we are looking forward to more,” said Kaur, who became the first Indian cricketer to join an overseas league when joining WBBL side Sydney Thunder in 2016.
"If we win the World Cup, there’s no doubt things will change. That tournament would bring a lot of confidence to the girls.
Fielding is erratic, seeking balance. Smriti Mandhana, Veda, Harmanpreet and Jemimah Rodrigues are superb and swift largely in outfield. Rest are pretty ordinary resembling their running between the wickets. In the last fifteen T20Is, Indian missed nine close run-outs and possible chances.
Coach Woorkeri Raman is a seasoned campaigner and is expected to be more communicative from dug-out with his instructions as the team will immensely miss Mithali’s guidance in field placement and Jhulan’s pep talks to the bowlers, Undoubtedly, the team seems fairly wet behind the ears.
If India have to play in their maiden final, they need three important things in the middle. Match maturity during big chase via constant pep talk by the coach. Secondly, overdependence on spinners should be avoided & finally fielding agility in 30 yards especially to cut boundaries and convert half chances.
“We’ve seen it from the WBBL, girls are going and playing there and getting confident, then doing really well in international. If we get a women's IPL that will be really good for us.
“If we win the World Cup, it’s going to be very big for us as a team, so we will try to give our best.”
