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Need more matches: Mithali

Indian skipper rues lack of bilateral series in the new season
Last Updated 20 August 2017, 20:14 IST
Women’s cricket has been in spotlight ever since Mithali Raj’s side scripted an inspiring performance at the World Cup.

The runners-up finish reflected India’s ability to shine on the big stage. As the new season beckons, more number of international matches will be key to India’s success, feels Mithali.

Worryingly, though, there are no bilateral series scheduled for the Indian women’s team till 2018.

“It would be good if we have more number of games and series. These games have to be covered on television as well. If they are not televised, then we won’t be able to develop the kind of interest that we generated with the World Cup. We have the domestic season coming up in December and then the ICC Championship Series starts next year. There are talks about a South Africa series next year but nothing is confirmed,” Mithali said at the Zeven store here.

The short duration of the domestic season will be of little use to the game, feels Mithali. “I think we need to have a longer domestic calendar. The domestic season in women’s cricket is just two months, including the one-dayers, zonal and T20 tournaments. The zonal games can be extended and the seasoned players will get more number of matches. This will also help more girls take up the sport,” she explained.

The likes of Smriti Mandhana, Veda Krishnamurthy and Harmanpreet Kaur played fearless brand of cricket consistently to form a team that looks good to gain more laurels in the future. Mithali stressed that good bench strength will help India remain consistent for a long time. “We must start working on a good second string team. Unlike in men’s cricket, where you are spoilt for choice, women’s cricket do not have too many players performing well at the top level.

We do have good players but we should work on a strong second string side so that if the senior players are injured there shouldn’t be a problem in looking for replacements. For this to happen there should be more India ‘A’ and U-23 tours. So when they make it to the Indian squad, they are experienced enough to handle the pressure and other challenges,” she noted.

Two Indian players -- Smriti and Harmanpreet -- made their Big Bash League debut last year, giving scope for many more rising talents from the country to play in the Australian T20 league. Though interested in playing in the league, Mithali said she is focused more on the World T20 next year.

“Next year we have the World T20 and we should start preparing for that. I don’t mind playing in BBL but they might read me well there so probably I prefer playing the World T20 first and then maybe if I get an opportunity I will play,” she explained.

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(Published 20 August 2017, 20:13 IST)

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