“Need to work a lot on the skills”- WV Raman
India lost the last T20I against England by just one run. They needed three runs in the final over when Kate Cross thrashed Indian dreams by picking up two wickets from one end as the veteran Mithali Raj kept on watching from the other end.
While talking about the same, Indian coach WV Raman said, “They have been playing good cricket, but in T20 what you need is smart cricket under pressure, [It’s a] young side, will learn along the way. Even though the scoreline says 3-0, not playing as well as we could, it was not a total washout in terms of the way we lost it. That’s heartening.”
He added, “First, they need to work a lot on their skills. Once the development in terms of skills happens, then all other things come into play, because tactically, everybody is aware of what needs to be done. But tactics cannot be executed unless the technical base is good enough.”
Regarding the inclusion and contribution of Mithali Raj in the team Rama said, “We had a chat about what is she comfortable doing and what suits the side as well. Since Harman [Harmanpreet Kaur] was not here, we needed someone with experience in the middle order. That’s the reason she stuck to her slot at four.”
He opined, “Quite obviously, she also needs to be backed up by others. Unfortunately, that kind of support didn’t come. It’s all a case of what a specific player can bring to the table and how it suits the team’s needs. That’s how things will happen.”