Mithali Raj shares how she deals with pressure
INDIA one-day international skipper Mithali Raj said yesterday that having a sports psychologist travelling with the team was helping the players to deal with pressure-cooker situations.
The India and New Zealand women’s teams will lock horns in one T20I and five ODIs. The T20I game will be played at the John Davies Oval, Queenstown, New Zealand, on Wednesday.
“Every player has their own individual way of absorbing pressure and coming out and playing their best cricket. Having a sports psychologist travelling with the team helps, she has one-on-one sessions with players on how to absorb pressure and how to play the best cricket under pressure situations,” said Mithali.
“In today’s time, it’s important to have sports psychologists travelling with the team. There’s a longer duration of quarantine and bio-bubbles, the tour is extended as we have a series before the World Cup. It’s always great to have professional support.”
On how she deals with pressure, Mithali said: “Well, I read books, I try to solve puzzles. You just try to not put too much load on to your mind. Off the field, I try to divert my mind and that is how I deal with pressure.” Asked about the coming series against New Zealand, Mithali said: “We are here to sort of use this series as preparation for the World Cup because it is the best way that we can get to know the wickets and what sort of composition we are looking at heading into the World Cup.
“We definitely want to put up our best standard of cricket, but having said that, every other team has prepared well for the World Cup. It will boil down to who plays the best cricket on the day.”
Mithali played her first World Cup in New Zealand and she will play her last World Cup in that country. The 2022 Women’s World Cup will be played from March 4 to April 3.
“I could not get through the entire World Cup in 2000 because I was down with typhoid.
“The team has done well in the past year, the team has performed well and I am looking forward to playing our best cricket in the World Cup,” said Mithali.
Asked about Harmanpreet Kaur, Mithali said: “She brings experience into the squad. In Australia, we missed an experienced batter in the middle and her coming back helps the team. Her off-spin can also help us. It’s good to have her back in the squad.”