Mithali Raj: I have never skipped press conferences

India women’s Test and ODI captain talks about promotion of eves cricket before team departs for England

India women’s Test and ODI team captain Mithali Raj has stressed that women’s cricket needs media support and she has never thought of skipping press conferences.

Mithali’s remark came after Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka decided to skip a media interaction because of her mental health in the ongoing French Open. Osaka later pulled out of the Open.

“I think it is tough to be in quarantine for any athlete. But, I think getting into a tournament, we do not feel that. Personally, I have not felt that I should forgo a press conference because women’s cricket right now needs media support and it is important for players also to sort of try and help in the growth of the sport. So we need to try to promote the sport,” Mithali remarked.

While Mithali may have made the media feel good with her utterances, she indulged in some tough talk too. That happened when her spat with head coach Ramesh Powar was brought up at a virtual press conference before the team left for a tour of England.   

“Can we move on from that? It has been three years, we are in 2021 and we should be looking forward now. There are many more series coming up,” Mithali said on Tuesday.

Mithali had been dropped from the playing XI against England for the 2018 T20 World Cup semi-final in the West Indies. Following India’s eight-wicket defeat, Powar was sacked from the post. Now, Powar, who has returned as coach of the Indian women’s team, endorsed Mithali’s views. He said: “We interact well; otherwise, I would not have come back to women’s cricket. Everyone grows up after three years. Larger goals are in the picture. This is a great opportunity for me, Mithali and the whole group to take women’s cricket to another level; the BCCI is supporting us.”

After a long gap of seven years, the Indian women’s team will play a Test match and Mithali will be leading India’s challenge in the one-off Test at Bristol on June 16. It will be followed by a three-match ODI series starting on June 27, at the same venue. Thereafter, Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the team in three T20Is, from July 9, at Northampton. 

Mithali, 38, who has figured in 10 Tests, 214 ODIs and 89 T20Is, said: “It’s good to have Tests, whether it’s home or away. If there’s continuity, it’s great because it helps players as well. Sometimes, it’s nice to go in without any baggage. You just go in, play and enjoy the atmosphere.”

Also Read: Coach Ramesh Powar backs Shafali Verma to shine on England tour

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