Women Indian skipper Mithali Raj said the team will try to utilize the upcoming Sri Lanka tour to prepare themselves for the World T20. India is set to tour the Island nation in September.
Meanwhile, the Indian women team is not in the best of forms in the 50-overs format. They were not able to defend their Asia Cup title for the first time when they lost against Bangladesh.
India will like to come up with better performances.
Furthermore, they were whitewashed by Australia (3-0) while playing at home. Moreover, India ended at the bottom-most position in the triangular series involving Australia and England. Thus, the group needs to get their act back together. Meanwhile, the World T20 will take place in November in the West Indies.
“It is important to regroup and get back the confidence again as the T20 World Cup is scheduled in November,” Raj told The Hindu. “In this context, the Sri Lanka series is very important.
Meanwhile, Ramesh Powar is the new coach of the Women Team. Thus, Mithali Raj believes the former off-spinner will help in developing their skills.
“With the new coach himself being a spinner, I am sure his experience will help our tweakers as we depend heavily on them in all formats.
Thus, Mithali Raj believes the upcoming series against Sri Lanka will help them in judging their progress ahead of the World T20.
The World T20 is on the cards.
“The Sri Lanka series will also be important in terms of knowing where we stand, what is the composition we should have, and accordingly, use these matches to prepare for the World Cup.”
Meanwhile, veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami decided to hang her boots recently. However, Mithali Raj wants to continue playing as long as she is fit.
“I would like to continue as long as I am fit and able to contribute to the team,” she said. “I don’t know really what keeps me going. But, it is obvious that the team needs to be settled.
“That way, I feel we should not struggle in ODIs. It takes time to find the right combination which can last longer. Probably, till that time I will hold on.”
The first of the three ODI against Sri Lanka will be played on 11 September. The ODI series will be followed by five-match T20I series.