Mithali Raj claims India require a lot of hard work in T20 format

02/26/2018

Despite winning the T20I series against South Africa quite convincingly, Mithali Raj believes that the players would need to improve more in the T20 format. Raj also revealed that despite not being a big fan of the shortest format, she is happy with its popularity in women’s cricket in India.

Raj scored three half-centuries during the recently concluded five-match T20I series against South Africa that included a 62-run knock in the fifth and final game, which helped India to seal the series 3-1 with a comfortable 54-run win in Cape Town. The side has performed exceeding well under Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership and despite admitting that the side has the instinct to surprise the world, Raj opined that it still needs to work hard in the T20 format.

“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 told ESPN Cricinfo.

Saturday was a special day for Indian cricket that saw both the men’s and women’s side sealing the last series of the tour. After the ICC Women’s World Cup last year proved to be a turning-point for India’s Women’s cricket, attracting huge Indian audience as the eves entered the finals before eventually failing, 35-year-old Raj admitted that though the popularity has increased back in the country she was disappointed as the ODIs were not broadcasted on television.

“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,” she said.

Despite the T20 format gaining mileage every year in the country with IPL being the prime example, the former skipper has stated she hasn’t been much fond of the shortest form of the game. However, she is positive about her and the side’s preparations for the 2018 T20 World Cup that would be held in Windies from November 9 to 24.

“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,” the the Rajasthan player concluded.

Mithali Raj claims India require a lot of hard work in T20 format

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