Mithali Raj reveals her own methods to reduce stress and focus on the game

Mithali Raj. Pic/Getty Images

India women's team captain Mithali Raj, 39, who will be playing her sixth World Cup next month in New Zealand, believes the presence of a sports psychologist is benefiting her team immensely.

The Indian women's team will be playing a solitary T20I against NZ at Queenstown today. They will play five ODIs against Kiwis at the same venue, starting from Saturday. Thereafter, the team will be heading into the ICC World Cup (March 4-April 3), beginning at Mount Maunganui. And apart from head coach Ramesh Powar and other support staff members, sports psychologist Mugdha Bavare is helping the team give their best in Kiwiland. "I think every player has their own individual way of absorbing pressure, coming out and playing their best cricket. Having a sports psychologist travelling with the team this time around helps. She [Bavare] has one-on-one sessions with the players to give them more time to understand how to deal with their pressures and find ways that they can absorb and give their best," Mithali said during a virtual media interaction ahead of the T20I game on Tuesday.

‘Read books to reduce stress'

Personally however, Mithali, who led the side to the 2017 World Cup final in England and has 7,391 runs under her belt from 220 ODIs, has her own methods to reduce stress and to focus on the game. "I read books. I try to solve puzzles. You just try to not put too much load on your mind. Off the field, I try to divert my mind to other things. That's how I deal with pressure," added Mithali, who played her first World Cup in NZ in 2000.

The sports psychologist's role becomes more significant in the current Covid-19 situation, where players need to stay in bio-bubbles for long periods. "Unlike before, where we got into the World Cup directly, now we have a series where the tour is extended for two months.

One-on-one sessions

"So, it does help to have a one-on-one session with players because you see things in a very different perspective and that clearly helps you understand your own self to find your own ways. Everyone has different ways of dealing with pressure and quarantine times, so to have somebody to address those issues is always helpful, a very professional support," said Mithali.