The Indian women’s cricket team faced a disappointing loss against England in the ODI on Sunday. The batting, bowling, and fielding everything just lacked in team India’s performance at the Bristol County Ground.
Indian batters had an outdated batting approach and consumed a mammoth of 108 dot balls, which lead to them giving the hosts a small target of 202. The English batters chased the target down in only 35 overs and won the match by 8 wickets and got themselves a 1-0 lead in the series.
Mithali Raj in the post-match press conference pointed out that the team needs to work in all three departments before they take on some of the world’s best women’s cricket teams in the upcoming ICC World Cup scheduled in January 2022 in New Zealand.
She also said that the team management and the players will have a talk and make a significant change in the playing eleven for the next ODI.
Former India captain Diana Edulji said, “the middle-order has too many anchors, which means Punam Raut can make way for Jemimah Rodrigues at number three.”
Diana Edulji told PTI referring to the trio of Mithali, Punam and Harmanpreet Kaur 👇#ENGvIND #ENGWvINDW pic.twitter.com/4nUBWuvCeE
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“You can’t afford to play 180 dot balls in modern-day cricket. That has to change. The seniors need to step up and if they can’t, then youngsters should be given the opportunities ahead of the World Cup,” Edulji told PTI referring to the trio of Mithali, Punam, and Harmanpreet Kaur.
“If you keep losing with the seniors, then you have to try out the younger players who showed in the one-off Test what they are capable of,” she added.
India has been having the trouble of not putting up a huge total on the board. India has only crossed the 250 run mark thrice since the 2017 World Cup. Teams like Australia and England chase down these small totals in no time, we saw that in the last match.
🗨️ India captain Mithali Raj has her say after 8 Wicket Loss against England in 1st ODI.#ENGvIND #ENGWvINDW pic.twitter.com/t1aSZYEHZm
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Taking about Harmanpreet Kaur’s form, Edulji said “Harman is not due for a big score, she is overdue”. The vice-captain only scored one run in the match and did not hit big in the Test match as well.
India also went with only one spinner in the match, Ekta Bisht against the likes of three pacers. Taking about the lack of spin representation at the Bristol ODI, she said, “I would want the team to stick to its strength which is spin bowling. Two spinners must play,”
Average First Innings Total of the Top teams when batting first since the 2017 World Cup ⬇️#ENGvIND #ENGWvINDW pic.twitter.com/0SHReOMqTY
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India will play their next ODI against England on June 30 in Taunton.
Source: PTI
