After a confidence-boosting T20I series win, the real test is here for Harmanpreet Kaur’s side as they take on England in three crucial ODIs in the lead-up to the World Cup which is just over two months away. With only three matches left on their schedule – at home against Australia in September just before the marquee home tournament – this series is pretty much the last opportunity for the Indian management to nail down their combinations. And Harmanpreet sees it as a ‘good headache’ to have after a while, with quite a few players enjoying a good run of form.
For starters, Pratika Rawal is expected to slot right back into the XI after not being part of the T20I squad. The Delhi opener has struck a dream combination with Smriti Mandhana at the top of the order. In 11 matches together, they have scored 968 runs for the opening partnership at an average of 88, with four 100-run stands. It is already in the top 10 for partnerships total for India in women’s ODIs, and better than Mandhana and Shafali Verma’s tally of 893 runs in 25 matches. With head coach Amol Muzumdar saying Shafali is also still in the mix for the World Cup, after her good run in the T20I series, Pratika will have the chance to remind why she deserves to keep her spot in the top order.
The captain also had plenty of praise for her two left-arm spinners Sree Charani and Radha Yadav, the rookie and the returning veteran. While Charani has risen to the ranks quickly in both white-ball formats, Radha’s bowling and fielding during the T20Is augurs well too, after being drafted into the squad in place of the injured Shuchi Upadhyay.
“Everything is quite settled and everybody knows their roles, what they’re going to do and (understand about) their positions. A lot of clarity is there compared to what we had previously,” Harmanpreet said in the pre-series press conference. “After a long time, it’s a (good) headache that everyone is doing well and we are getting an option to choose the best team. Before this, we didn’t have so many options. (The) credit goes to Pratika (Rawal) and Shafali (Verma), the kind of performances they are coming up with. Harleen, too, whenever she has gotten the opportunity, has shown that she can be good for the team and bat responsibly.”
For Pratika, a first international series away from the subcontinent will be the biggest challenge of her brief career. And she has been in England for over a week now to get accilmatised. “I came on July 6, and I had my first net session in Manchester, when I was batting there, I sensed that the ball was skidding,” Pratika told BCCI.tv. “Also, the bounce was a bit more as compared to the Indian wickets. So, I was able to assess in which areas I could place the ball and score runs accordingly. Also, back home, I was practising on astro (turf) wickets so that I could get used to the bounce. I have had a lot of conversations with Harman di, Smriti di, and Amol sir, to understand conditions better, and strategically which areas I can play according to my strengths so that I can counter the English pace bowlers.”
From the squad that won the Tri-Series in Sri Lanka recently, India are likely to retain a majority of the XI as Harmanpreet hinted at retaining a four-pronged spin attack that worked in the T20Is too and possibly a toss-up between Arundhati Reddy and Kranti Goud for the second seamer spot alongside the impressive Amanjot Kaur. Whoever does make the cut for the playing XI in these three matches will be auditioning for their spots in the World Cup squad, adding heft to what should be a hard-fought series between two of the top three teams in the world.
India’s ODI Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (WK), Yastika Bhatia (WK), Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Goud, Sayali Satghare, Radha Yadav
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Fixtures: 1st ODI: Southampton (The Rose Bowl), 5.30 pm, July 16; 2nd ODI: London (Lord’s), 3.30 pm IST, July 19; 3rd ODI: Chester-le-Street (Riverside Ground), 5.30 pm IST, July 22.
