Mithali Raj, Indian Captain says she feels that youngsters like Shefali Verma and Richa Ghosh has been instrumental in shaping the team and making it ready for the upcoming World Cup. Basically Indian selectors have tested some of the young talents in the recent games against SA, England Australia and others to keep the squad ready to fire in the coming world tournaments.
Speaking on the same,
“The talent that we’ve got in the last year, we’ve tried some young talent in the squad, and most of them have shown that they have the ability to play at this level like Richa (Ghosh), Shafali (Verma), we have Meghna Singh in the seamers, Pooja Vastrakar,” Raj said on the second day of the captains’ opening media conferences.
“They all have been given good game time and those series have really helped them and me as a captain to find out where they fit in into the composition of the team.
I definitely know my playing composition for the first couple of games and I look forward to giving game time to all the core players during the warm-up and also to those players who will get opportunity at some point in the world cup.”
The veteran batter said that a team needs to have a mix of experience and youth to do well in tournaments.
We do have an experienced core group from last edition. Most of them, even the young players who recently got into the side, had the opportunity of playing in leagues. That gives them exposure other than bilateral series.”
“When you go into big events you depend on experience not just young players. Having both together is a good mix.”
Preparing for a record sixth appearance at an ICC event, Raj said she is looking to continue her rich vein of form.
“As far as me personally, I am happy with the way that I’ve been scoring runs, and I would love to continue the form into the World Cup.” The India captain said she has advised the players who are set to make their debut in the World Cup to not pile up the pressure and enjoy the big stage.
“The young talent in the side today, I tell them that you don’t have the experience of the past World Cups, so it’s a clean slate for you, all you have to do is enjoy the big stage,” she said.
“I did have a word with Yastika (Bhatia) the other day, I took her out for a coffee and we’ve spoken quite a bit, she’s a chatty kid and asked me a lot of questions.
In the last two ODIs against New Zealand all-rounder Deepti Sharma served as Raj’s deputy. However, the Mithali Raj, skipper confirmed senior batter Harmanpreet Kaur, who roared back to form with a match-winning 63-run knock, will be India’s designated vice-captain at the World Cup.
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