Snehasis Mukherjee in Visakhapatnam
Fresh off their first defeat in the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, Team India began their preparation for the upcoming clash against Australia on October 12 in Vizag. It was an optional practice session — understandable after the intense, high-pressure game against South Africa on Thursday.
But unlike only two players turning up for previous optional sessions, this one had a surprise. Six players were in attendance, including skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana. The other four were Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, and Radha Yadav. The presence of both senior leaders just a day after a gruelling defeat seemed to send out a strong message — India are aware of the importance of the next few matches.
Three games have passed, and Mandhana is still waiting for that big innings. Against South Africa, she looked steady early on and shared a 55-run opening stand with Pratika Rawal. However, a loose shot against Nonkululeko Mlaba brought about her downfall. Mandhana scored 23 off 32 balls, another occasion when she got a start but failed to convert.
In Friday’s session, she looked comfortable in the nets, but her footwork remains an area of concern. What looks smooth in practice has not translated into match situations, and that hesitation in movement has often led to her dismissals in this tournament.
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For Harmanpreet, too, it has been a frustrating start to the World Cup. Across three games, she has not been able to play the kind of impactful innings expected from her. Two of her dismissals have come against spin. At the nets, she seemed focused on addressing those issues, spending considerable time fine-tuning.
It was a positive sign for the team to see both Amanjot and Renuka in action. Their fitness is crucial for India’s balance. With both in contention, the team management might be tempted to include them together in the XI against Australia. However, that could mean a tactical reshuffle, possibly leaving one spinner or one batter out.
As for Radha and Arundhati, it will be hard for them to get a chance right now in the current combination.
The intensity and attendance at the optional practice hinted that the defeat to South Africa seems to have acted as a wake-up call. The players understand what lies ahead — a string of tough fixtures against Australia, England, and New Zealand. These matches will likely decide India’s position in the standings and whether they can secure a semi-final berth.
India will have a full-fledged training session on Saturday from 2-5 PM IST, followed by a pre-match press conference.
Also Read: India’s spin struggles continue to haunt as batting concerns deepen after Vizag loss