As the Indian women’s cricket team gears up for the final leg of their critical white-ball tour, captain Harmanpreet Kaur reflected on the evolving dynamics of her side. The T20I series win and the lead-up to three ODIs have presented a pleasant conundrum: an abundance of form and talent.
“After a long time, we’re having a healthy headache of having to pick the best team. Earlier, we didn’t have so many options. Credit to Shafali and Pratika for the kind of performances they’ve put in. Even Harleen, whenever she’s got the opportunity, she has shown she can also take the responsibility for the team,” Harmanpreet said ahead of the first ODI in Southampton.
Speaking about her responsibility as a captain and role clarity, she said, “Clarity as a captain is something I give to all players so that when we go to the ground, we know our role and what kind of cricket we’re going to play. Everyone knows their role. A lot of clarity is there compared to previously. It’s very important as a player and team to get that. When you’re playing for the country, you want clarity of roles. All credit goes to the team and staff for giving that clarity to the players.”
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur has underlined the importance of spinner Radha Yadav in India’s setup, acknowledging the tactical challenge the team faced when the left-arm spinner went through a rough patch.
“Radha is one of the most important teammates,” Harmanpreet noted, expressing the value she brings both on and off the field. “When she was not doing well, it was a big headache for all of us as to how to keep getting performances from her because she is such a team player who I don’t want to lose as a captain.”
Kaur credited Radha’s resilience and hard work during her break from international cricket, highlighting the turnaround that followed. “The break she got in between, she did a lot of hard work and improved herself for international cricket,” she said, adding that Radha remains a vital asset in the ODI format as well.
Coming in as a replacement player for injured Shuchi Uapdhyay, Radha Yadav made the most of this opportunity as she picked up 6 wickets across five T20Is.
The Indian skipper also reflected on the team’s improved athleticism and intensity on the field, pointing to increased fitness and fielding drills as key contributors. “We have increased the fielding and fitness load, the results are visible,” she affirmed, underlining India’s broader strategy to raise their competitive standards across formats.
India’s growing bench strength isn’t limited to the batting department; there’s a notable surge in spin depth as well. Over the past two years, the Women’s Premier League (WPL) has become a breeding ground for spinners, unearthing fresh talent like Saika Ishaque, Shreyanka Patil, and Tanuja Kanwer. The latest to rise from that wave is 20-year-old left-arm spinner N. Shree Charani, who made a stunning impact in the T20I series against England, finishing as the Player of the Series with 10 wickets.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur was all praise for Charani’s rapid ascent. “She’s a key player for us,” the skipper said, reflecting on Charani’s potential. “In the WPL, where she played two matches for Delhi Capitals, she was impressive. From there itself, we had discussions as a team management and with selectors that she could be a very good option for us.” Charani’s emergence adds yet another layer to India’s growing spin arsenal, a crucial element as the team sharpens its plans for the ODI World Cup.
Another positive for the Indian team management has been the emergence of Amanjot Kaur. Her rise has come at a critical juncture, with established all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar ruled out due to a stress injury that casts doubt over her World Cup availability. With pace spearhead Renuka Singh also missing from the squad, Amanjot has seamlessly stepped in to shoulder the seam-bowling duties alongside Arundhati Reddy.
India’s ODI approach has seen a noticeable shift in recent times. Moving away from the traditional strategy of simply batting deep, the team has begun to adopt a more aggressive, high-scoring mindset. This was evident during their title-winning run in the recent tri-series against South Africa and Sri Lanka, where they posted totals of 276, 275, 337, and 342. Harmanpreet Kaur acknowledged a deliberate shift in India’s ODI approach over the past few years, noting that the team has consistently aimed to post totals exceeding 300 runs.
According to the skipper, this strategy provides a much-needed cushion for the bowlers, reducing pressure in high-stakes matches. She reflected on earlier challenges when the team operated with just five bowling options, which often made defending lower scores difficult. Drawing from recent T20I experiences, she highlighted the inclusion of four spinners as a tactical move that has started to yield positive results, enhancing both balance and flexibility in the bowling unit.
“When we’re batting, we want to look for more than 300 and when we’re bowling, we have good bowling options so that there’s no extra pressure on any one bowler, because anyone can have an off day. We should have another option to be in the game. Pratika is our sixth bowling option; she’s been doing well in between. We’ll try to get more options in bowling. Our fielding was outstanding in the T20I series, so we’ll try and carry that momentum,” concluded the skipper.
India’s women’s squad no longer suffers from selection scarcity, instead, a “matching problem” of whom to choose. With budding talent, clarified roles, and a fresh competitive edge, they appear battle-ready to face England in the ODIs and potentially peak in India-Sri Lanka come World Cup time.
