After India's disappointing seventh-place finish in the recent ICC Women's World Cup, a few heads were expected to roll.
After India’s disappointing seventh-place finish in the recent ICC Women’s World Cup, a few heads were expected to roll. On Thursday, the BCCI announced the Indian team for the ODIs and T20Is against the visiting Bangladesh team without captain Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami in it.
‘Rested’ is a term that the senior players dread, especially when they are nearing the end of their careers. The general mood among the seniors is one of insecurity. It is understandable when the players are rested if the women’s calendar is packed. But there is hardly any tournament for women. Also, they are unsure if they will be guaranteed a place in the Indian side again if youngsters deliver against a weak Bangladesh side.
However, chairperson of the women’s selection committee Gargi Banerjee told DNA that they have been “rested” and not dropped. She said, “They will be back for the next tournament. We are continuing with most of the players from the World Cup and those who have been rested can return for the next series.
Moreover, Bangladesh is a new team and the seniors such as Mithali and Jhulan have played more than 100 ODIs. Also, they are 30 years (Mithali is 30 and Jhulan 29) and I don’t see them playing in the next World Cup, which is four years away. We have to look at the future. We have great respect for Mithali and Jhulan and what they have achieved for Indian women’s cricket.”
Banerjee also said that while in the recent past there were hardly any replacements in the women’s team, the reserve strength is looking better now. She also said that “resting” the seniors was not necessarily because of the poor show in the World Cup.
“It is a fact that India’s performance in the World Cup was not up to the mark. But it is not why we have given them a break. Thanks to BCCI’s initiative, we have the U-19 Challengers, U-19 zonal tournaments for women. There are plenty of options available now. Having said that, Mithali and Jhulan are outstanding players and we cannot drop them just like that,” Banerjee said.
Meanwhile, the BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale met the captain and coach of the Women’s World Cup early in the week to take stock of the situation.
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