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Diana Edulji reckons inexperience should no longer be an excuse, while Shantha Rangaswamy feels playing in overseas leagues is causing injuries as Mithali & Co endure seventh loss in nine ODIs; Australia win by nine wickets

With just six months left for the ICC Women’s World Cup (March 4 to April 3 in New Zealand), India, the runners-up of the 2017 edition, are struggling to set their house in order.

Big blow first up

Mithali Raj & Co suffered their seventh ODI loss in nine matches when they went down to Australia in the first ODI on Tuesday. India posted 225-8 in their 50 overs, thanks to skipper Raj’s 63, her fourth consecutive half-century in ODI cricket. Australia were ruthless in their chase, completing the target in 41 overs after Rachel Haynes slammed an unbeaten 93 and Alyssa Healy scoring 77. Meg Lanning scored an unbeaten 53 as the hosts won by nine wickets at Harrup Park, Mackay to extend their winning streak to a record 25 matches.  

Diana Edulji and Rangaswamy. Pics/AFP, Atul Kamble

Former India captain Diana Edulji felt the BCCI must take some strong calls. “I think the authorities have to give a lot of thought and take some strong calls if they want to really pick that ICC trophy. Our seasoned players have to contribute more. The experience is now there; our players are playing around the world in the Women’s Big Bash League [in Australia], The Hundred [in England]. There is no excuse for not being consistent now. Being international players, you have to adjust,” Edulji, who was also a member of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators, told mid-day.

Not consistent enough   

Openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana’s below-par performances is hurting the team the most, felt Edulji. “We need at least the Powerplay to be taken care of, by scoring 70 to 80 runs. Both our openers are good strikers. I think they need to put a price on their wicket. Consistency is not there at all.

“Everybody thinks Shafali is a gamechanger, but it is too much now to depend on her. She isn’t delivering consistently. I agree she is just 17 or 18, but world around the teenagers are doing wonders. So, that’s not the excuse anymore. I feel we need to have some serious thinking on our batting order,” she said.

Another former India captain Shantha Rangaswamy felt preventing players from playing in T20 leagues may help. “Harman [Harmanpreet Kaur] had an injury during the South Africa series, then one during the England series, also during The Hundred and she has one injury in Australia. If the players are prone to injuries, the BCCI must not permit them to play all the matches like WBBL or The Hundred because the country comes first. She is our impact player and I feel we must look after these players well. I understand it would be a financial loss if prevented from playing in these T20 leagues, but I am sure the BCCI can find a way around and look to compensate to the extent possible,” said Rangaswamy.

Brief scores
India 225-8 in 50 overs (M Raj 63, Y Bhatia 35, R Ghosh 32*; D Brown 4-33, H Darlington 2-29, S Molineux 2-39) lost to Australia 227-1 in 41 overs (R Haynes 93*, A Healy 77, M Lanning 53*) by 9 wickets 

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