Captaining the Indian ladies’s group 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 group that performed within the 2000 World Cup in New Zealand and greater than twenty 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, in addition to being a member of the group 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 stated in a video posted by the ICC.
Captain Mithali Raj discusses India’s preparation, objectives for #CWC22 and the need to win their first ever ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup
— ICC (@ICC) March 1, 2022
“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 collection towards New Zealand 1-4 however the group was capable of submit 250-plus scores persistently. Raj stated the aspect was trying to do higher through the March 4 to April 3 World Cup.
“What we’re enhancing as a group for the World Cup is one thing we labored within the final collection and earlier than that.
“Yes, there was a little bit of concern throughout South Africa and England tour. By the Australia and New Zealand collection, the group has come round properly to attain above 250 persistently. We look ahead to doing the identical through the World Cup, most likely a lot better than that.”
The 39-year-old veteran batter stated having a number of left-handers among the many prime and middle-order is a bonus for the group.
“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 composition. It is important to focus on the basic things you have worked on over the years and that comes to your help.”
She stated a powerful efficiency within the World Cup would assist in enhancing the fan base of the Indian ladies’s cricket group.
“I hope every participant turns into a family identify. Also, there are loads many younger women who seemed as much as the gamers. I’m certain they’ll idolize many extra ladies 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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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
