Raghvi Bist makes her international debut while West Indies hand Nerissa Crafton her T20I cap ahead of the second T20I between India and West Indies as India are put into bat first.
India headed into the second T20I with a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series at the D.Y Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai.
Ahead of the second T20I, both sides made a couple of changes with Smriti Mandhana leading for the hosts in the absence of regular skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, which made way for Raghvi Bist to make her international debut while Hayley Matthews-led Windies side made two changes to their squad with Ashmini Munisar and Nerissa Crafton replacing Mandy Mangru and Shamilia Connell.
Raghvi Bist, who had received her maiden international call-up has now made her much-anticipated international debut after being named in the playing XI ahead of the second T20I.
The Uttarakhand batter had put in remarkable performances at the domestic circuit and also during India A tour of Australia earlier this year. Later on, carrying the form in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy, she amassed 158 runs in seven innings for Uttarakhand and was one of the consistent performers in the Senior Women’s T20 Challenger, scoring 162 runs in five matches.
Meanwhile, bowling all-rounder Nerrisa Crafton also was on her T20I debut. Crafton was part of the Windies squad in the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup but didn’t get a game in the marquee event. Crafton’s addition adds variety to the Windies as the left-hander can bat in the middle, while bowling skillfully.
The match is crucial for both sides as the visitors find themselves in a do-or-die situation, needing a win to stay alive in the three-match T20I series, while India, leading 1-0, will look to seal the series with a victory.
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