The three-match ODI series between India and Sri Lanka kick starts from July 1 at the Pallekele International Stadium in Pallekele. This will be the first ODI assignment for India’s Harmanpreet Kaur as the captain of the team after the retirement of Mithali Raj. Captaincy is not new to Kaur as she has been India’s regular T20I captain since September 2019. However, she played as Raj’s deputy in the 50-over format. The 33-year-old has already led India in five ODIs between 2013 and 2018, out of which, she has led the team to victory in four matches.
Before the ODI leg of the Sri Lanka series, India locked horns against the island country in a three-match T20I series. Kaur led India to a 2-1 series win in the T20Is that was played between June 23 and June 27. The all-rounder would certainly take up from where she had left in the T20Is going into the three-match ODI series that will be played from July 1 to July 7.
Ahead of the first ODI, Kaur in a press conference expressed that shouldering the leadership responsibility of the team in the white-ball formats would give her a big advantage and help her stamp her authority in the team. She said, “When I’m leading, I feel I am more involved in the game. It always gives me a lot of confidence. Captaincy is something that comes naturally to me when I’m on the field. Over time, when you have a lot of years of leading [the team], things get easier. Right now, I don’t feel extra pressure on me.”
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Kaur also stressed on the importance of fitness levels, skills and mental aspect of the game. Alongside head coach Ramesh Powar, the Women in Blue have a batting coach in Hrishikesh Kanitkar and mental health conditioning coach in Dr. Mugdha Bavare. India’s captain shared that during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand this year, Dr. Bavare was of great help as she helped Kaur when she was going through a rough patch. Unfortunately, at present team India is without their mental health conditioning coach for the Sri Lanka tour but Kaur is hopeful that the team will have her for the future tours.
The quotes are sourced from ESPN
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