After losing ODIs to Australia, Kaur & Co hope to put up a better performance in T20 tri-series, with opener against Oz today
It seemed that not playing any international cricket for six full months following their remarkable outing in the ICC Women's World Cup last July until early February did not have any impact. They created a historic double by winning the ODI and T20I series in South Africa 2-1 and 3-1, respectively.
But, reality struck when, they were crushed in their maiden home series as World Cup finalists 3-0 to Australia last week in Baroda.
Putting aside that result, and with a change of captaincy in Harmanpreet Kaur taking over from Mithali Raj in the T20s, India look for an improved show and delight the home fans, who were right behind the girls like never before during their 50-over campaign in England last year.
From being relatively unknown faces barring a few like Mithali and Jhulan, the entire Indian woman cricketers became household names with their exploits in England. Cash rewards and lucrative endorsement deals came their way and changed the way the nation looked at Indian women's cricket. And, with central contracts in place for the international players, the Indian women's cricket is at an altogether new level, and can only get better from now on. Like Mithali said on the Tuesday, this team "is on road to becoming a far superior team" than it was in the World Cup.
The 3-0 drubbing at the hands of No. 1 ranked-team in women's cricket, Australia has woken up the Indian team that is a mix of rich experience in top-order batter Mithali and strike bowler Jhulan Goswami, daring, aggressive approach of captain Harmanpreet herself, aggressive opener Smriti Mandhana and Veda Krishnamurthy and highly skilled teenagers like batswoman Jemimah Rodrigues and all-rounder in the making Pooja Vastrakar.
They are well aware that they have not strung in batting partnerships in the ODIs last week. They are aware of the bowling not clicking and allowed Australia to run away with comprehensive victories.
But, with the change in format, Indian Women would hope for change in fortunes. They'd would hope to continue from their T20 tri-series win in South Africa last month.
But it is not going to be easy. Fourth-ranked India, have the least success percentage among the three teams that will be seen in action in the tri-series starting on Thursday.
Australia have won 60 of their 101 T20 Internationals till date for a success percentage of 59.40 and England, ranked second, have an even more impressive 75 wins in 105 T20Is for 71.42 wins every 100 games. In contrast, India have won 40 wins in 78 games for 51.28 success per centage.
Against England and Australia alone, India have won only 5 T20Is out of a combined 23 matches.
England and Australia also have an edge over India in the fact that most of their players have been regularly playing T20s and are coming from the Women's Big Bash League Down Under. Only India's Veda Krishnamurthy featured in the latest WBBL for Hobart Hurricanes, but with little success. The only other Indians with WBBL experience in the team, though in 2016-17 are Harmanpreet (Sydney Thunder) and Smriti (Brisbane Heat).
The timing of the matches — each team plays the other twice in the league format with the top two entering the final and all of them at Cricket Club of India's Brabourne Stadium – is strange as they have been slotted for 10am start. The girls may have had spring in their step if the matches were under lights and had greater audience to cheer them as the gates are open to the public for free.
But, Harmanpreet and her girls don't mind the timing. They are happy to just play cricket. The Indian team did not play a single T20I in 2017 after their Asia Cup triumph in Bangkok in December 2016 and returned to the shortest format in South Africa last month.
"After the (50 over) World Cup last year, the way we have got response from everyone was a big thing for us. But right now we want to play good brand of cricket and our focus is on cricket," is all Harmanpreet said on Wednesday when asked if a prime-time slotting would have been ideal for women's T20s.
RAJESHWARI REPLACES INJURED EKTA
Mumbai: The All-India Women's Selection Committee has replaced injured Ekta Bisht with fellow left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad in the Indian squad for the Women's T20 tri-series starting here on Thursday.
Bisht suffered a left index finger while attempting a caught and bowled against Australia in the third ODI in Baroda last week and has been advised 10-day rest.
Squads:
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Mithali Raj, Veda Krishnamurthy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Anuja Patil, Deepti Sharma, Taniya Bhatia (WK), Poonam Yadav, Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Pooja Vastrakar, Rumeli Dhar, Mona Meshram, Rajeshwari Gayakwad
Australia: Meg Lanning (C), Rachael Haynes (VC), Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Naomi Stalenberg, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington
England: Heather Knight (C), Tammy Beaumont, Kate Cross, Alice Davidson-Richards, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Katie George, Jenny Gunn, Alex Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Amy Jones, Anya Shrubsole, Bryony Smith, Nat Sciver, Fran Wilson, Danni Wyatt
SCHEDULE:
March 22: India vs Australia
March 23: England vs Australia
March 25: India vs England
March 26: India vs Australia
March 28: England vs Australia
March 29: India vs England
March 31: Final
(All matches at Brabourne Stadium, 10am start)
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