Selectors won’t experiment too much ahead of Women's World T20, states BCCI official
A BCCI official has stated that the squads for the upcoming series in the game’s shortest format will be selected keeping in mind the needs of next year’s T20 World Cup. He said the probable players have more or less been chosen and not many changes will be made in the regular squad.
The BCCI would be focusing on picking a balanced Indian women’s cricket team for upcoming tours and home series while making sure the players are well-groomed with less than six months to go for ICC’s marquee event. Glimpses of what the selectors have in mind for the World Cup will be seen on Thursday when the squad will be announced for the five-match T20I series against South Africa in Surat slated to start on the 24th of September.
“The series against South Africa will also help the selectors and the coaching staff know where exactly things stand and what all needs to be done leading to the World T20,” a top BCCI official was reported saying by Sportstar.
With former skipper Mithali Raj having announced her retirement from the format to focus on ODIs, it now opens up space for a budding batsman to join the ranks of what is already a solid batting unit. Smriti Mandhana has proven to be a formidable batsmen in the format having achieved quite a lot at such a young age, while experienced campaigners such as captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues ensure there is little room for doubts about the batswomen’s abilities.
Harleen Deol has been in a rich vein of form of late while Deepti Sharma showcased her potential to the world in the KIA Super League and the battle for Raj’s spot will most likely be fought between the two and might also see Veda Krishnamurthy being placed out of the national team’s fold.
The team also boasts of some world-class bowlers who over the years have moulded their places in the team such that they now are practically irreplaceable. The same unit that travelled to England in February is likely to continue comprising stalwarts such as Poonam Yadav and Shikha Yadav.
“The team has done well over the years and now with the World T20 coming up, the selectors don’t want to experience too much. It is important to give the players more time and help them get ready for the tournament,” another official said.
The meeting will be held at the BCCI headquarters in the presence of coach W.V. Raman, T20 captain Harmanpreet and ODI captain Mithali.
