It will likely be a trial by hearth for skipper Harmanpreet Kaur as India start preparations for subsequent 12 months’s World Cup with the three-match ODI sequence towards New Zealand beginning on Thursday, having not too long ago endured one other failure at claiming an ICC title. The sequence might be very important for Kaur who has confronted flak for her captaincy throughout the recently-held T20 World Cup within the UAE, the place India did not clear the group stage although the skipper emerged because the staff’s highest scorer within the event.
Whereas India look to get their act proper after the forgettable outing within the UAE, New Zealand might be on a excessive having lifted the T20 World Cup trophy with a medical efficiency all through the event, barring their group recreation towards Australia.
Kaur, 35, retained her place as captain regardless of questions on her management in latest instances, and within the sequence towards New Zealand, she should handle with out the providers of big-hitting wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, who is because of seem in her twelfth customary board exams.
The skipper was criticised for her actions within the ultimate over of the group match towards Australia in UAE, with specialists and followers questioning her resolution to take a single on the primary supply of the final over, leaving it to Shreyanka Patil to hit two consecutive sixes.
Skilled all-rounder Asha Sobhana may even miss out as she nurses an harm and was unavailable for choice, whereas seamer Pooja Vastrakar, who injured herself throughout the event in UAE, has been rested for this sequence.
The squad contains just a few uncapped gamers as there have been maiden call-ups for Tejal Hasabnis, Saima Thakor and Priya Mishra.
There might be a number of expectations from the opening duo of Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana with the duo solely managing to reach patches within the T20 showpiece.
It is necessary from India’s perspective that the elegant Mandhana and the swashbuckling Shafali hearth on the high of the order and set the tone.
Like all the time, the onus might be on Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues to helm the middle-order however India will miss Ghosh’s means to hit fours and sixes at will.
With Harmanpreet going by means of a tough patch so far as captaincy is worried, her deputy Mandhana might be anticipated to assist the skipper along with her inputs.
All three matches might be performed on the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Groups (from): India Ladies: Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, D Hemalatha, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Uma Chetry (wk), Sayali Satgare, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Tejal Hasabnis, Saima Thakor, Priya Mishra, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil.
New Zealand Ladies: Sophie Devine (capt), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Lauren Down, Izzy Gaze (wicketkeeper), Maddy Inexperienced, Brooke Halliday, Polly Inglis (wicketkeeper), Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Melie Kerr, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu.
Match begins at 1.30 pm IST.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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