Before Team India departed for the United Arab Emirates, Head Coach of the Women’s Team, Amol Muzumdar had left everyone in suspense with regards to who would be playing as India’s No.3 batter for the T20 World Cup 2024 campaign. Ahead of the opening game against New Zealand in Dubai on Friday, Muzumdar has shed some clarity regarding the same.
India had tried and tested several players for the role. This includes the likes of Jemimah Rodrigues, Yastika Bhatia, Dayalan Hemalatha, Sajeevan Sajana and Uma Chetry. But Muzumdar has confirmed that it would be the skipper herself who would take up the key batting position for the side’s upcoming campaign.
It is also to be noted that Harmanpreet did indeed play at No.3 during India’s two warm-up fixtures against the West Indies and South Africa. However, she did not have much of a performance to indicate that she was ready to take up the responsibilities. But Muzumdar revealed that the plans were in place to have the skipper take up the No. 3 slot well in advance.
“Absolutely, not just the warm-up games, but we had already decided back in India and in the camps that happened before we set off from Mumbai. We had a lovely camp in Bangalore, and we decided there. Basically, these pre-World Cup matches absolutely stamped that for us. Go through the scorecard, you’ll find out,” said Muzumdar in the pre-match press conference.
India’s Sixth Bowling Option
Another big aspect that the side is lacking in is the sixth bowling option. The skipper can chip in with some off-spin. However, she has not bowled in a T20I for quite some time.
In fact, the last time she bowled was back in September 2022 against England where she conceded 17 runs in the one over she bowled. But she had a fairly positive return when she bowled an over during the warm-up game against South Africa where she gave away just two runs and picked a wicket.
Muzumdar has backed Harmanpreet to get the job done along with three others who were not named to chip in should the situation demand so.
Muzumdar remarked, “We’ve paid a lot of attention to the sixth bowling option. Also, for a fact that we have had multiple discussions within our top six, at least three to four have to bowl. If we can get those overs out of them, then nothing like it.”
“All of them could bowl. So, it’s just a question of applying and just putting in those hard yards in the nets and then converting that into a match performance. So, Harman hasn’t bowled, but she bowled in the second T20 warm-ups and is experienced enough to bowl those overs,” he added.
(with IANS Inputs)
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