“If she is prone to injuries, she should avoid playing overseas leagues”: Shantha Rangaswamy

India’s performance in the recently held ODI series against Australia has been lauded by many. Considering how strong and successful Australia is, following their 26 ODI winning streak, the way the Indian team performed is worth appreciation.

 

 

After a defeat in the 1st ODI, the women in blue came back strong, putting up a great game of cricket taking the match to the last ball finish in the 2nd ODI. It was just a no-ball, and a few missed fielding which took the game from them but, they fought back in the third one and clinched the victory breaking Australia’s streak which was started against them and now ended by them.

Talking about the player’s performance individually, there has been talks around the slow strike rate of the captain Mithali Raj despite her being one of the successful cricketers in Women’s cricket having several records to her name. She had a streak of five consecutive half-centuries before being run out in the second ODI at a lower score due to a miscommunication with her partner Smriti. However, she is India’s one of the finest batters, and criticism of this sort even when she is contributing well to the team’s total is not acceptable.

Top 3 – Highest Run getters in #AUSvIND ODI series:

• Beth Mooney
• Smriti Mandhana
• Tahlia McGrath

Who do you think will be in the Top 3 (Most Runs) by the end of Test and T20I series? pic.twitter.com/d3EbDsOHlV

— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) September 27, 2021

In a recent interview with PTI, former India Women Captain and current member of BCCI’s Apex Council, Shantha Rangaswamy shared her thoughts on the same, “She is the best ever batter for India and she is still the best. She knows how to change gears very well and the strike rate doesn’t matter if wickets are falling at the other end. She played well in the UK and in this series too”

Member of BCCI’s Apex Council, Shantha Rangaswamy questioned T20I skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s fitness as thumb injury ruled out her of the series. #AUSvIND

Here’s what she said 👇 pic.twitter.com/wAGmdWnUMU

— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) September 28, 2021

She further went on saying that the team should work on their fielding, Richa Ghosh on her wicket-keeping, and the openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana need to be more consistent in the games ahead. She also commented on Harmanpreet Kaur who is one of the team’s key assets. Her thumb injury during The Hundred kept her out of the playing XI during the ODIs. Shantha said, “She had come from the hundred injured, before that she got injured during the South Africa series at home. If she is prone to injuries, then she should avoid playing overseas leagues and prioritize playing for India. She is an impact player, and the team needs her. The BCCI can step in and stop players from playing in leagues ahead of important tours like Australia.”

Shantha also praised the impressive debut by youngster Yastika Bhatia and the great performance of all-rounder Sneh Rana.

Her views on the team’s performance as a whole were, “It was remarkable as they fought hard against the best team in the world. India should have won the second ODI too, but it was a good game nonetheless.”

Source: PTI / lifestyle.livemint.com