Follow UsIndian captain Mithali Raj didn't shy away from accepting that team's bowling is a huge concern going into the 2022 Women's World Cup. The Women in Blue allowed New Zealand to amass 191/5 in 20 overs in a rain-interrupted fourth ODI and ended up losing the game by 63 runs.
India are now 0-4 down in the five-match series and their bowling attack failed to defend 270 and 279 in the previous two encounters respectively. The team also failed to chase 276 in the opening game of the series.
"We have definitely been trying few compositions with our spin and seam attack. But to be honest the bowling is a bit of a concern before the World Cup. We want all our main bowlers to get their rhythm," Mithali said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
Mithali conceded that bowlers have not been consistent with their lines and lengths throughout the tour. "We are adapting to the conditions but there are spells where the bowlers have bowled well but we are not consistent and it is something that we are looking to improve."
However, Mithali was mighty pleased with the way Richa Ghosh batted in the fourth ODI. The young wicketkeeper-batter smoked four fours and as many sixes in her 29-ball 52 and also recorded the fastest ODI half-century by an Indian.
"I was just looking at some of the shots and the way she (Richa) went about her batting, she is very talented and the future for India."
Her opposite number Sophie Devine was happy with another dominant show. " It was another complete performance from us. With the bat, we showed real intent. Good experience (shortened game) with the World Cup coming up. It was a great opportunity for us. The batters played to their strengths.
"With the bowling, at times, we have been slow to change our plans. We have to adapt quicker. I had belief in this group forever, nice to see people are seeing that. We are seeing the results now, there's real confidence and belief. It's perfect timing with the World Cup just around the corner."
Mithali backs youngsters Shafali and Richa to do well in World Cup
Mithali is confident that youngsters like Shafali Verma and Ghosh will rise to the occasion at the upcoming women's World Cup in New Zealand Mithali reckons the 18-year-old Verma, who was the team's standout performer during the 2020 T20 World Cup, will continue to play impressive knocks for the country in the marquee event.
"Shafali Verma is surely one of the players being watched with great enthusiasm back home," Mithali wrote in her column for the ICC. "She is one of the world's rising stars and I am backing her to have more impressive performances for India throughout the tournament with guidance and support from the stylish Smriti Mandhana at the other end."
The big-hitting Verma has had a relatively lackluster tour of New Zealand by her standards, having scored only one half-century. However, Ghosh, who is competing with the Taniya Bhatia for the wicketkeeper's spot, has made most of her chances. "Taniya Bhatia has been very reliable behind the stumps and Richa Ghosh is hot on her heels, meaning we have two wicketkeepers we can trust."
The veteran batter added that the India team is very "fortunate" to be heading into the marquee event having played top sides like holders England, Australia and hosts New Zealand recently. Despite having lost all the games on the tour -- one T20 and four ODIs -- so far, Mithali feels getting used to the seaming conditions is a big plus for India, who are not used to such wickets at home.
"The series in New Zealand has given us a chance to acclimatise, particularly to the seaming conditions we don't often experience at home. Against England, we won one of the three ODI matches and put up a good fight in the other two before beating Australia to end their run of 26 one-day wins.
"Those results show what is possible if we come together as a team and believe in ourselves. The recent results against England and Australia prove that India is capable of winning the upcoming women's World Cup," Mithali wrote.
India had finished runners-up after succumbing to a heart-breaking eight-run loss to England at the 2017 World Cup and Mithali said missing out on that chance is something that will "rankle forever".
"I clearly remember the emotions from the final of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in 2017, having come so close to winning. The match against England was played in a packed Lord's stadium and to miss out on that chance is something that will rankle forever.
Mithali feels that her side has shown it's "more than capable of winning" a title but just lack that one "huge win."
"We have shown that we are more than capable of winning the trophy, it is now just a case of doing it and the impact of doing so would be incredible. I can only imagine what its effect would be. To be recognised on the streets in my country is something I never expected when I appeared in my first World Cup in 2000, also in New Zealand, but that is now so common and shows how much the game has grown in India."
Mithali will have pacer Jhulan Goswami by her side during the tournament, and the two veterans are eager to get their hands on the trophy before they bid adieu to the sport. "Jhulan Goswami was by my side in 2005 and has been an ever-present member of the Indian team in all those years since, she has amassed 240 wickets in ODIs, 60 more than anyone else and luckily shows no signs of slowing down.
"We both so badly want to win an ICC World title before we call it a day! We have, of course, been joined by so many talented youngsters in recent years. There is huge talent in India and I am sure the next crop of players is already inspiring thousands and thousands of girls out there to pick up the bat or ball."