‘Odd loss not a worry, need to get combinations right’
After suffering a humiliating 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Australia in the ODI series, the India women’s team will look to get its act together when the T20 tri-series kicks off on Thursday at the Brabourne Stadium.
ODI skipper Mithali Raj feels the T20 series -- involving India, Australia and England, will give them another opportunity to groom youngsters especially with the women’s T20 World Cup to be held in West Indies in November later this year.
“The team is now preparing for the T20 World Cup later this year and it is important that we get our combinations right before that. Even if we have to make a few changes to the squad, irrespective of the eventual result, it is fine as we have to look at the bigger picture,” said Mithali, who will hand over the captaincy to Harmapreet Kaur for the T20 format.
“We have young talented players (in our ranks) and they really need that experience. In a year or two, we will surely have better quality players playing for India,” she added.
While Smriti Mandhana, at 21, has already established herself in the squad and will be vice-captain for the upcoming series, Mithali felt it is the right time to ‘invest’ in the likes of teen sensation Jemimah Rodrigues, who had a breakthrough domestic season, wicketkeeper Taniya Bhatia and 18-year-old Pooja Vastrakar, who she feels can be nurtured into a good all-rounder.
Coming to below-par performance in the ODI series against Australia, Mithali said that players struggled as they had just returned from South African conditions. She also added that the visitors were too superior.
“We lacked partnerships in the middle-order.”