ANI
23 Jun 2022, 20:37 GMT+10
New Delhi [India], June 23 (ANI): Following in the footsteps of the great Mithali Raj is a tough task for anyone, but it is something that India's Women's white-ball captain Harmanpreet Kaur is determined to do well ahead of next month's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
While Harmanpreet has been India's T20 captain since 2018, the experienced 33-year-old now takes the reins from Mithali for 50-over cricket ahead of a vital period for India's Women's team.
With Mithali retired and the likes of Jhulan Goswami and Sneh Rana missing for their upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, it's a new-look India side that will look to rebound quickly from a disappointing ICC Women's Cricket World Cup campaign in New Zealand earlier this year.
India failed to qualify for the knockout stages of that tournament and now Harmanpreet must find new ways to invigorate her squad ahead of the Commonwealth Games and next year's T20 World Cup in South Africa.
The first port of call for Harmanpreet is six white-ball matches against Sri Lanka (three T20I and three ODIs) starting on Thursday, before India's attention switches to the Commonwealth Games that commence at the end of July.
But Harmanpreet said she will rotate her squad around as much as she can so she has a settled XI in time for India's first match of the Commonwealth Games against Australia on July 29.
"We only have three T20s here (in Sri Lanka) and it is going to be very difficult to give everyone an equal opportunity," Harmanpreet said.
"We will try and cover all areas to help everyone prepare (for the Commonwealth Games)."India's squad that will take on Sri Lanka is stacked with proven performers, while youngsters Jemimah Rodrigues and Simran Bahadur are among the players keen to show their wares after they missed out on selection for the 50-over World Cup earlier this year.
"We spoke to the players and told them whatever opportunity they get they need to be ready for," Harmanpreet noted.
"Only two people can go and open (an innings), but everyone needs to be ready to bat at any number and that is what you need from your batting unit."And while Harmanpreet will be doing her best to emulate Mithali as India's new captain in all formats of the game, she knows it will be impossible to match everything the former India skipper did during her illustrious career.
"Mithali has done great for women's cricket and I don't think there's anyone who can fill her place," Harmanpreet said.
"We are working hard on our team where we can create some combinations, but if we talk about Mithali, I don't think there is anyone who can take her place and we will always miss her in our dressing room."(ANI)
Get a daily dose of Tennis Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Tennis Times.
More InformationWashington [US], June 30 (ANI): Coming out of her self-declared acting retirement, Cameron Diaz will co-star alongside Jamie Foxx in ...
Brooklyn Nets guard Patty Mills declined his $6.2 million player option for next season, ESPN reported on Wednesday. The move ...
Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper underwent surgery to repair his fractured left thumb, interim manager Rob Thomson said before Wednesday's ...
The Ottawa Redblacks hope to end their touchdown drought Thursday night when they play host to the high-scoring B.C. Lions. ...
Brooklyn Nets guard Patty Mills declined his $6.2 million player option for next season, ESPN reported on Wednesday. The move ...
Rookie Julio Rodriguez homered and drove in three runs as the Seattle Mariners defeated the visiting Baltimore Orioles 9-3 on ...
ISTANBUL, Turkey: Turkish police detained dozens of people after local authorities banned Istanbul's annual Pride parade from going ahead this ...
PARIS - The lone survivor of a team of Islamic State extremists was convicted Wednesday of murder and other charges ...
OAXACA CITY, Mexico - Before he began the journey that ended in disaster, Jose Luis Vasquez lived in a remote ...
Islamabad [Pakistan], June 30 (ANI): Former Pakistani Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday asked the ...
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 29 (ANI): Parents-to-be Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja make for perfect hosts. Recently, Sonam's uncle, Sanjay ...
Nairobi [Kenya], June 29 (ANI/Xinhua): Child marriage is on the increase in the Horn of Africa region as the severe ...