Trisha Ghosal in Mullanpur
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur struck a composed yet confident tone on the eve of the upcoming series, underlining its importance in the build-up to the World Cup while also stressing the need to keep her players fresh.
“This series is very important. At the same time, we are giving opportunities to everyone so that players remain fresh for the World Cup. We will give 100% and try to win,” Harmanpreet said, making her intent clear.
The return of pacer Renuka Singh has boosted the squad, and the skipper was visibly delighted. “Yes, everyone is fit and moving well. Renuka has always played a very important role for us. We are really happy she’s back because we know how hard she has worked. With her arrival, we get that extra support. She has always been a big presence for the team and she’ll get a lot of support from Kranti, Aru and others.”
For Harmanpreet, the upcoming games carry personal significance as well. “I am personally very excited. The last time I played in Punjab was the 2016 T20 World Cup at a different stadium. This is my first time playing here and I got to practise yesterday. Playing at home, in front of my own people after so long, is special. Hopefully we play good cricket and give them something to cheer for.”
The absence of Shafali Verma is being felt, but the captain was quick to highlight the emergence of Pratika. “Whenever Shafali is with us, the team gets extra motivation because if she bats well, we usually win. But at the same time, Pratika has shown great talent and confidence in such a short time. She brings stability, has started well, and we are dependent on her. She has always performed and we trust she’ll continue to do well.”
On reaching a milestone of 150 ODIs, Harmanpreet’s reaction was heartfelt. “Thank you for telling me — I honestly wasn’t aware of that. It was always a dream to represent India, and now to reach 150 ODIs is very big for me. I will do my best for the team, play good cricket and take the country forward. For us, results matter, but what’s more important is the approach and intent we bring on the field.”
Reflecting on India’s growth, she added: “Australia have been dominating for a long time. But in the last 1-1.5 years, our performances have brought us closer. We are now at a stage where everyone believes we can beat them… Hopefully, in these three matches, we play our best cricket and change the stats people talk about.”
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