After having won the T20I series 3-2, India have their noses front in the ODIs as well and would be looking to continue their good run in the lead-up to the 50-over World Cup at home that starts in just over two months. Pratika, however, insisted that the team’s focus is entirely on the here and now, and it is not just a cliche. “Seriously, we are taking just one game at a time. Currently, our prime focus is to win this series. to win the next match and win this series 3-0. That will be great. Keeping it one thing at a time helps with better focus and better concentration,” the opening batter said.
With the second ODI to take place at the Lord’s Cricket Ground, the 24-year-old said it was a privilege to play for the country at the iconic venue. “Lord’s is a lovely ground, a historic one. Definitely, any player who takes up cricket wants to play here at least once. I am very happy that I am here in this squad. Representing my country, playing against England on their home ground. So I am very excited. But I am still holding my nerve as well. And I am looking forward to it,” she said.
Pratika has made a dream start to her ODI career, having struck a prolific equation with Smriti Mandhana at the top of the order and crossed the 1,000-run tally for their partnership in the opening match of the series. The Delhi batter said Mandhana makes her life easy when they go out together. When asked if there is any difference in approach to how she bats with Mandhana, and then with Harleen Deol who has been coming at No 3, Pratika said it is dependent on situations.
“Whenever I bat with Smriti, there’s always a mind-relieving thing. There’s no pressure from the other side in terms of dot-ball percentages, but that doesn’t take away the fact that I’m not equally responsible,” Pratika explained. “I do share the responsibility of playing at a certain pace. It’s just an expression of how wonderfully she plays. And with Harleen as well, I feel like there are a lot of different situations. For example, the wicket was on a drier surface in Southampton. It feels like the ball was coming very well. But in reality, the ball was coming a bit slower. So in that situation, I think we managed it very well. And the base that was needed from our side was given to the team. And then Jemi and Deepti carried it on very well.”
‘Contact unintentional’
Pratika was fined 10% of her match fee by the International Cricket Committee for breaching Level 1 of the Code of Conduct during the first ODI against England in Southampton, citing two separate incidents during India’s innings. ‘In the 18th over, she made avoidable physical contact with bowler Lauren Filer while running a single, and after being dismissed in the next over, she made similar avoidable contact with bowler Sophie Ecclestone on her way back to the pavilion,’ the ICC statement said. In addition to the fine, one demerit point has been added to Pratikal’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.
“It was not intentional. I was just running in my way. And that shoulder barge thing… it was not deliberate in that sense. I don’t think there is a reaction to it or maybe a fuss out of it,” Pratika said in the press conference on the eve of the second ODI at Lord’s.
