Struggling Batters Need To Step Up As India Face Embarrassing Series Loss

Struggling Indian batters will need to find a way to play on a slow surface as they face Bangladesh in the second women's ODI in a bid to avoid an embarrassing series defeat

PTI

Updated on: 18 July 2023 7:49 am

India are heavily dependent on skipper Harmanpreet Kaur when it comes to power hitting.

Struggling Indian batters will need to find a way to play on a slow surface as they face Bangladesh in the second women's ODI in a bid to avoid an embarrassing series defeat in Mirpur on Wednesday. (More Cricket News)

Spinners, especially leg-break bowlers, have troubled Indian batters through the Bangladesh tour and on Sunday they also found pacer Marufa Akter hard to negotiate as the fancied team suffered its first-ever loss to Bangladesh in ODIs. Following that memorable victory and a win in the preceding final T20, Bangladesh now have the momentum and belief to script a famous series win over India.

India have a World Cup to play in Bangladesh next year and they need to learn how to accumulate runs on pitches where the ball doesn't come on to the bat.

It has been a collective failure so far on the tour though India somehow managed to seal the T20 series.

Star batter Smriti Mandhana's showing has been a big disappointment and Priya Punia, who replaced Shafali Verma for the ODI series opener, too struggled in her comeback.

Both Yastika Bhatia and Jemimah Rodrigues have struggled to rotate strike and that has put them under extra pressure. In the absence of Richa Ghosh, no one has stepped up for the finisher's role with the team struggling to find boundaries.

Amanjot Kaur, who bowled well on Sunday, has a good opportunity to make an impact with the bat as well and give India a much needed finishing option.

Bowling coach Rajib Datta said there is no need to press the panic button.

"There is no need to be disappointed. The team did not execute its plans the way it wanted to. It is a team in transition phase and looking at combinations for the World Cup (next year)," he said.

India bowled 19 wides in the series opener and that should be a big area of concern.

"Extras are an issue. The girls are playing after four months. It is not a big issue, we will rectify," added Datta.

Squads:

India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Harleen Deol, Devika Vaidya, Uma Chetry (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Priya Punia, Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Anjali Sarvani, Monica Patel, Rashi Kanojiya, Anusha Bareddy, Sneh Rana.

Bangladesh: Nigar Sultana (C), Nahida Akter, Murshida Khatun, Fargana Hoque, Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Lata Mondal, Disha Biswas, Marufa Akter, Sharmin Akhter, Sanjida Akter, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun, Salma Khatun, Fahima Khatun, Shamima Sultana.