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India’s women’s cricket team expects new faces to seize the opportunity with both hands and finishers to thrive in the three-match T20 series against Bangladesh that starts here on Sunday, their first international stint in four months.
The T20 series will follow with three ODIs from 16 July.
The team led by Harmanpreet Kaur last participated in the T20 World Cup in South Africa narrowly losing to Australia in the knockout stage.
In an age when most male cricketers live out of a suitcase due to a relentless schedule, the members of India’s women’s team have had plenty of time to think and work on their game.
Dhaka landing. # Team India
Let’s start our tour of Bangladesh.
📸: BCB pic.twitter.com/m6ZDOHwT1h
– BCCI Women (BCCI Women) July 6, 2023
The last competitive event for Indian women’s players was the inaugural Women’s Premier League in March.
India, who now have all the resources at their disposal, have not been able to take their game to the next level and match strong Australia on a regular basis.
The team needs to improve on various aspects including fitness, bowling and lack of finishing which comes at a higher price in the shortest form.
The star performers in the team over the past 12 months – Pasir Renuka Thakur and wicket-keeper Ranicha Ghosh – are not part of this side due to injury and fitness issues respectively, providing an opportunity for the rookies to impress.
Veteran Dipti Sharma is expected to play the striker role in Ghosh’s absence, with Pooja Vastrakar and Amangut also needing to step in with rapid fire towards the end of the innings.
Unselected Yastika Bhaita and Uma Chetry are the two text save choices to the side. Yastika is expected to start on Sunday and needs to hit much faster than her current BPA of 85.38.
Bangladesh shouldn’t pose much of a problem for India, but the pressure will be on opener Shafali Verma who has often been found wanting to tackle the short ball since making her international debut in 2019.
The absence of Radha Yadav and Rajeshwari Jayakwad from the left arm could hand first matches to the 20-year-olds Anusha Parede and Rashi Kanugia.
The series will also be the return of heroine Monica Patel and Meghna Singh will be eager to cement her footing in the side after heating the bench most of last season.
Nausheen Alkhudair, who led the India U-19s to the World Cup title and more recently the U-23s in Hong Kong, has been appointed as the interim coach for the tour with Amol Muzumdar appointed full-time so far.
The players trained at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru before leaving for Bangladesh. All matches will be played at Sher Bangla National Stadium.
“Bangladesh is a very good team, they always play good cricket at home. We are ready for the challenge. We had two days to prepare and we are feeling ready in all departments,” Harmanpreet said on the eve of the match.
the difference
Bangladesh: Nigar Sultana (c/wk), Nahida Aktar, Dilara Aktar, Shathi Rani, Shamima Sultana, Sabana Mustari, Murshida Khatun, Shurna Aktar, Ritu Moni, Disha Biswas, Maroofah Aktar, Sanjeeda Aktar Mugla, Rabih Khan, Sultana Khatoon, Sultana Khatoon Fahima Hatun.
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Harleen Deol, Devika Vaidya, Uma Chetry (Wk), Amanjot Kaur, S. Meghana, Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Anjali Sarvani, Monica Patel, Rashi Kanugia, Anusha Paredy, Minoo Mani.
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