We can be a surprise element in World T20: Mithali Raj
Cape Town Feb 25 (IANS) Fresh after registering a historic double series win on the South African tour India One-Day International (ODI) captain Mithali Raj said the team can be a surprise element in the World T20 in November.
The Indian women s team scripted history on Saturday when they beat South Africa women by 54 runs in the fifth and final T20 international.
The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side displayed an all-round performance as they outclassed the Dane van Niekerk-led team bowling them out for 112 to lift the T20 series trophy by a margin of 3-1 in the five-match series.
"The team still requires a lot of hard work in a lot of areas when it comes to the T20 format. We have been very good in the one-day format but the way the girls have responded to this format in South Africa I think there is a lot of scope that we can be a surprise element in the World T20 " Raj 35 told ESPN Cricinfo.
"Now people back home are keen to watch on television they want to know what the Indian women s team is doing in South Africa.
"It is just unfortunate the one-dayers weren t televised but I am happy the T20s were televised and we have given a very good result. So getting back home we have the tri-series against Australia and England which is again going to be televised so I am hoping all of you will get glued to the TV and start cheering for India " the veteran batswoman added.
Around Raj there is a younger crop of promising young cricketers to ease the burden from her shoulders.
Th likes of Smriti Mandhana Harmanpreet Kaur and Veda Krishnamurthy provide middle-order muscle and in 17-year old Jemimah Rodrigues who shared a 98-run stand with Raj in the series clincher a star is being nurtured.
"Yes that has helped my batting knowing that the team is not completely dependent on me " she said.
"I can at times take that initiative to try out a few strokes in the middle without getting bothered if I get out. I am very happy that we have more than one or two match-winners in the squad. That makes it a very strong squad."
Not a fan of the T20 format Raj said she is confident of becoming a good player in the shortest format of the game by tuning herself to that mode.
"Honestly I am not someone who is very fond of the T20 format.
"But since I am preparing for the T20 World Cup it was important for me to start scoring runs in this format to gain that momentum. I am very happy that this series has given me that confidence that I can be a T20 player.
"It is a conscious effort to turn my game so that I can get used to the T20 format because as an opener it is important that I have all-round shots and also see that aerial route because the first six overs are crucial so you can give a start to the team."
India s next international assignment is against Australia with the first of three ICC Women s Championship matches beginning on March 12.
It is a busy calendar for India as they will also host Australia and England in a T20I tri-series in March followed by three ODIs against England at home.
--IANS
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