Without using as many words, head coach Amol Muzumdar all but confirmed that captain Harmanpreet Kaur will begin the T20 World Cup in a role she hasn’t played often in her long career: batting at No 3.
While there was some suspense created before the team departed for Dubai, Harmanpreet played both the warmup matches in that slot (despite no significant return). And in the pre-match press conference on Thursday ahead of their opener against New Zealand, Muzumdar said it was a call that was taken even before the team left for the World Cup and the warmup matches just confirmed that.
Harmanpreet has played every edition of the tournament so far, and now at 35, is taking up a new challenge, one that is tricky for the skill-set she has. Not the fastest of starters, Harmanpreet has played a majority of her career in T20Is at No 4, where she could afford to take a little time to settle before upping the ante in the end. The No 3 will however be called upon often to negotiate the powerplay, and dot balls in the first six overs are not ideal.
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Now that onus to switch quick gears is likely to fall on the likes of Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh and revitalised Deepti Sharma, at least to start off India’s campaign against two-time finalists New Zealand.
Muzumdar hinted at a five-batter, five-bowler, one-wicketkeeper combination for India’s final balance and that means the fit-again Yastika Bhatia could get a look in as well in the middle order.
Sophie Devine’s side, while traditionally strong in the women’s game, have struggled for results off late. A 0-3 defeat against Australia can be brushed aside, but a winless tour of England just before that raised concerns. In Devine, Amelia Kerr and Suzie Bates, the White Ferns have bonafide match-winners on their day, and with the captain saying they have worked hard on their batting strike rates, India’s bowling unit will have to be on their guard.
Conditions in Dubai will be a challenge for more sides, but the toss could prove vital if dew sets in and NZ have the batting firepower if they are chasing a par score.
Bangladesh, Pakistan register wins
The tournament kicked off on Thursday in Sharjah with Bangladesh and Pakistan registering wins on a track where boundary-hitting proved difficult through the day. Nigar Sultana was overcome with emotion as Bangladesh won their first ever T20 World Cup match away from home, ending a 10-year-wait as well in the process by defeating tournament debutants Scotland. In the second match, there was an upset of sorts as newly-crowned Asian champions Sri Lanka were outbowled on a slow track by Pakistan’s spinners.
Brief scores:
Bangladesh 119/7 in 20 overs (Sobhana Mostary 36, Saskia Horley 3/13) bt Scotland 103/7 in 20 overs (Sarah Bryce 49 not out, Ritu Moni 2/15 ) by 16 runs.
Pakistan: 116 in 20 overs (Fatima Sana 30, Chamari Athapaththu 3/18) beat Sri Lanka 85/9 in 20 overs (Nilakshika Silva 22, Sadia Iqbal 3/17) by 31 runs
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