Captaining the Indian ladies’s crew within the upcoming World Cup after first that includes within the showpiece 22 years in the past, Mithali Raj feels her profession has come a full circle with solely the dream of holding the “elusive” trophy remaining unfulfilled.
Raj was part of the Indian crew that performed within the 2000 World Cup in New Zealand and greater than 20 years later, she is returning to the identical nation, this time because the captain.
In between, she had additionally confronted the heartbreak of shedding within the summit conflict to England within the 2017 version, apart from being a member of the crew that ended second in 2005.
“I have come a long way from the 2000 World Cup, that also in New Zealand. I missed (matches of) that World Cup because of typhoid and here I am. It has come a full circle and I am looking forward to finishing the journey,” Raj mentioned in a video posted by the ICC.
“I would look forward to all my players doing well in the World Cup and that will give the Indian team the opportunity to get a hand on that elusive cup.”
India had misplaced the current ODI sequence in opposition to New Zealand 1-4 however the crew was capable of put up 250-plus scores constantly.
Raj mentioned the aspect was seeking to do higher throughout the March 4 to April 3 World Cup.
“What we are looking at improving as a team for the World Cup is something we worked in the last series and before that.
“Yes, there was a bit of concern during South Africa and England tour. By the Australia and New Zealand series, the team has come around well to score above 250 consistently. We look forward to doing the same during the World Cup, probably much better than that.”
The 39-year-old veteran batter mentioned having a number of left-handers among the many prime and middle-order is a bonus for the crew.
“It is good to have left handers in the playing XI, the advantage of having a left-right combination in the middle creates difficulties to the (opposition) captain, bowlers and the fielders.”
Raj has been in good nick within the lead-up to the showpiece with 9 fifties for the reason that resumption of cricket final yr.
“I always prefer sticking to the basics of the game because when you play a big game and high pressure situation, it is difficult to maintain composure. It is important to focus on the basic things you have worked on over the years and that comes to your help.”
She mentioned a robust efficiency within the World Cup would assist in enhancing the fan base of the Indian ladies’s cricket crew.
“I hope each and every player becomes a household name. Also, there are a lot many young girls who looked up to the players. I am sure they will idolise many more women cricketers.
“Not just girls, but also young boys should look up to the young girls because these girls have work so hard, sacrificed so much to be at the spot where they are now.”
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