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'Mentor' Mithali on a mission

Without burden of T20 captaincy, India women’s ODI skipper will look to ensure that team has smooth run in ICC Women’s WC Qualifiers

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Mithali Raj has an important task on hand. She, along with the Indian team, embarks upon a tour of Sri Lanka on Friday for the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifiers beginning on February 7.

The India ODI captain has to ensure that her ODI team has a smooth sailing into the ICC Women's World Cup to be held in England from June 26 to July 23.

With the top-four ranked teams getting direct entry into the WC, India did not fall in that bracket and hence have to go through the qualifiers. Four out of the 10 teams in Sri Lanka will go through to the World Cup. India, the 2005 WC runners-up in South Africa, are favourites.

"I don't think we are feeling odd to be going to the World Cup through the qualifiers," the 34-year-old Mithali told DNA from Alur near Bengaluru where the Indian team has been having a 10-day camp from January 23.

"Looking at the other side of it, we are getting matches before the WC – eight in all including the final. We will also get to play three other teams that will be going to WC. It is a good preparation, giving all of us opportunity to be among runs and work on the combination before going to WC."

Mithali, who made her ODI debut in 1999 and is the second highest run-getter in history, said the Sri Lanka tournament was not "ideal preparation" as conditions in Lanka will not be similar to England". However, she added, "it is better to have matches before WC".

With Ireland, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in Pool A followed by Super Six and the knockouts, India should have an easy tournament.

"Easy, as far as qualifying is concerned," the right-hander from Hyderabad said. "But, we all are coming from a T20 domestic tournament. Harmanpreet Kaur is coming from Women's Big Bash League in Australia. We have to shift to one-day format. Every team is looking forward to giving its best to qualify for the WC. They are not going to be easily giving to us," said Mithali.

Accumulator of 5,407 runs in 167 ODIs, Mithali's own form has been impressive of late. She opens in T20s and at No. 3 in ODIs. With the T20 captaincy burden off her shoulders, Mithali admitted to having more time to analyse her own game and enjoy life off the field.

Just as a player, she played a stellar role in India winning the Asia T20 title in Bangkok in December. But she is still not satisfied.

"I still want to score more runs. Given the fact that WC is round the corner, it is important to get runs. These are the matches that I am looking forward to doing that," Mithali said.

Having been the batting mainstay of the Indian team for more than a decade, Mithali laughed it off when asked if she wasn't tired doing it match after match, year after year.

"I am definitely not tired, I am not stagnating. I'm in a phase where I have changed a few things. I have worked on the conversion rate. I have included a few more shots in my armoury that could surprise teams in the World Cup. England, Australia and others will come with their plans, I should have my own strategies," she said.

The WC qualifiers give her a chance to experiment with the changes to her batting. "When we get into the WC, it will be very high intensity matches. There, it will be more of mental make up and how I absorb pressure," said the Jodhpur-born Railways player.

Harmanpreet Kaur has taken over the T20 captaincy, allowing Mithali to bat with freedom, much like MS Dhoni. But Mithali, who is still the ODI captain, wants to see youngsters grow.

"Once you lead a team for a long time, you slip into a role (of a mentor). Expectations will be there. It may probably be even more now. Off the field, you don't have to have extra responsibility. You have more time to introspect your own game, analyse your own game, invest more time in your progression. I enjoy it. As captain, you get very little time to introspect your game. Now, as a player, you get much more time. As a player, there have been times when I would not have been able to give more time to a youngster.

"I feel as a player, I have so much more to grow and improve on. Whatever experiences I have gained, I can always help. I would want these youngsters to grow as well. If at all I have something to give back to the sport, I would want the see the youngsters improve," she added.

Mithali singled out 19-year-old left-handed opener Deepti Sharma. "Deepti is very impressive. From what I saw her in NZ series in July 2015 to the series against West Indies in November 2016, she has improved so much. She is a very handy orthodox spinner too. She is one player who will make it big if she continues to work hard," Mithali said.

While the absence of Smriti Mandana, who injured her knee while playing for Brisbane Heat in the recent WBBL, will hurt India, it is also a chance to test others, felt Mithali. "Very unfortunate, Smriti got injured at the wrong time. These matches would have been equally important for her as a player as she has been struggling with form. That also give us an opportunity to try Veda Krishnamurthy and Mona Meshram so that we will have players ready if at all something unfortunate happens."

The other Indian in WBBL, India's T20 captain Harmanpreet turned up for Sydney Thunder. "WBBL has given her a lot of confidence as a player. But how she uses it in one-day format, will have to see. She played on Aussie pitches that were good batting tracks. Whereas, Sri Lankan pitches will be on slower side. It will assist spinners. But, having scores behind your back will help."

DID YOU KNOW?

Mithali is the second highest run-getter in ODIs, 5,407 runs in 167 ODIs with five hundreds and 40 fifties.

N ZONE

49.60

Mithali Raj's batting average, second highest among current players after Australia's Meg Lanning's 51.18 and fifth in all-time list

Women's WC Qualifier Groups

Group A: India, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Thailand
Group B: South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Scotland, Papua New Guinea

India's Group A fixtures

Feb 7: vs Sri Lanka, P Sara Oval
Feb 8: vs Thailand, Colombo Cricket Club

Feb 10: vs Ireland, P Sara Oval
Feb 13: vs Zimbabwe, P Sara Oval

Top 3 sides from each group progress to Super Six stage, where they will play three matches against teams from the other group. The top four teams from Super Six will complete the eight-team line-up for ICC WWC 2017 in England. The top two sides from S6 will play in February 21 final.

INDIA SQUAD

Mithali Raj (C), Harmanpreet Kaur, Mona Meshram, Thirushkamini MD, Veda Krishnamurthy, Devika Vaidya, Sushma Verma, Mansi Joshi, Shikha Pandey, Soni Yadav, Poonam Yadav, Ekta Bisht, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Deepti Sharma

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