The three-match T20I series between India and Sri Lanka is done and dusted with India winning the series 2-1. After taking an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the series, India were denied a clean sweep by Chamari Athapaththu and co. as the hosts registered a seven-wicket win in the third and final T20I on Monday. This series will be the last T20I tournament for India before they play the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham from July 29 to August 7.
At the end of the T20I series, India’s head coach Ramesh Powar addressed a press conference in which he said, “We touched upon all the bases. Honestly, the wickets were slow, so we were not expecting too many high-scoring games, but the way Harman, Shafali, Jemimah and Smriti batted, we are on the right track as far as batting is concerned.”
After registering two straight wins in the three-match T20I series, the third and the final T20I did not go India’s way as Sri Lanka’s captain Chamari Athapaththu led from the front with a blistering 80 not out off just 48 balls to steer her side home. The southpaw almost single-handedly chased down the target of 139 with three overs to spare.
Powar said, “Chamari put us under the pump and we should learn from this game and move forward and plan accordingly.”
Though India’s batting looked good in the series, the bowling did not seem to be up to the mark. They missed the services of senior players like Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Poonam Yadav and Rajeshwari Gayakwad. While Yadav and Gayakwad were rested, Goswami and Pandey are not a part of the India squad for the Sri Lanka series.
“Harmanpreet’s Indian team on right track ahead of CWG games.”
~ Ramesh Powar, Coach of Indian Womens’ Team#CricketTwitter #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/Aa2qznSpFS
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“The idea behind the bowling unit for this series was to give chances, opening up options. Our frontline bowlers Poonam Yadav, and Rajeshwari Gayakwad were rested for that purpose. We wanted to see how our bowlers handle pressure,” Powar said.
In the absence of the regular pacers, Simran Dil Bahadur, Renuka Singh Thakur and Pooja Vastrakar shouldered the pace responsibility of team India. Powar said, “We need to give them a little bit of freedom, Simran (Bahadur) is coming back after a break. All in all, I’m happy that there are options.”
In the end, Powar shared that the biggest takeaway is the gelling in the team. Also, the fitness levels have gone up. He feels that the Women in Blue are progressing in the right direction.
The quotes are sourced from the Sportstar
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