Time running out for Harmanpreet Kaur and India to solve the middle-order muddle

The Women in Blue embarked on their journey to the southern hemisphere for one of the most awaited tournaments in the history of the sport, the Women's World Cup and a white-ball series against the White Ferns in the last week of January. 

Despite being the finalists in the last edition of the World Cup, Mithali Raj and the team management had plenty to ponder as the team stepped into the land of the Kiwis for the five-match series, touted to be a curtains raiser ahead of the World Cup. 

One of the glaring issues that has hampered the progress of the India side in the past couple of years is the lack of runs scored by the middle-order batters barring Mithali Raj. 

While the skipper of the Indian side has been phenomenal in the 50-over format since the conclusion of the 2017 World Cup, the same cannot be said about her deputy. The vice-captain of the side endured a dismal run in this format ever since her record-breaking knock in the semi-finals against Australia. 

In ODIs since 2018, the right-handed batter has amassed 563 runs in 25 innings at an average of 26.8, the worst among players batting in the middle-order with a minimum of 500 runs.

With the world coming to an absolute halt amid the pandemic post the resounding success of the T20 World Cup in Australia, the Women in Blue stepped onto the field after a year-long hiatus for the home series against South Africa. 

While the 32-year old contributed with 160 runs in four innings at an average of 53.3, including a half-century, things seem to have gone downhill for her and the Indian side. 

She failed to get going in the three-match series against England away from home and missed out on the series Down Under due to a thumb injury. 

With only a solitary half-century in the nine innings and lack of experience in the middle order, the team has failed to put on a substantial total on the board or chase down the targets in the second innings. 

While she took the world of cricket by storm with her exploits in the Women's Big Bash League, her diminishing returns in the 50-over format of the game has been an area of concern for the Indian side. 

With the Indian team missing the services of Smriti Mandhana due to extended quarantine, the onus of the side relied heavily on Mithali and her deputy to guide the team in the first couple of games. 

While Mithali notched up half-centuries in both the matches, Harmanpreet scored 10 runs in each game, resulting in enormous pressure on the captain. In the last five innings, Harmanpreet has failed to score over 20-runs in each outing, making things difficult for the Indian side in the middle overs. 

Amelia Kerr's rise at the international level

While the world of cricket witnessed Amelia Kerr's performance in the last game as she anchored the 271-run chase with a masterclass to power the White Ferns to a three-wicket win, little do the people know that the right-handed batter slowly climbed up the ranks after her double hundred against Ireland in 2018. 

Promoted to open the batting, she smashed an unbeaten 232 to carve her name in the record books by registering the highest ever individual score in the history of ODI cricket. Over three years after her stupendous feat, the 21-year notched up her second hundred in this format after smashing an unbeaten 119 runs off 135 studded with seven boundaries. 

Despite taking over three years to record her second ton, Amelia has been one of the most consistent all-rounder's at the international circuit. In ODIs since 2018, Amelia has scored 781 runs in 27 innings and scalped 36 wickets, the most among players with a minimum of 500 runs and over 20 wickets.

With the World Cup set to commence in the land of the Kiwis in less than a month, the team management would hope for the youngster to showcase her all-around prowess and help the White Ferns create history. 

Indian pacers ought to support Jhulan Goswami

In the second encounter, the pace bowling attack of the Indian side looked insipid and lacked experience as Mithali opted to rest Jhulan Goswami and draft Simran Dil Bahadur in the playing XI along with Pooja Vastrakar. 

Barring the veteran seamer and her exploits last season, the Women in Blue failed to make optimum use of the new ball and create inroads in the opposition batting unit inside the first 10 overs. 

While the Indian team have guilty of chopping and changing the new ball partner of Goswami in the recent past, none of the options seemed to have worked for the team.

The likes of Shikha Pandey, Meghna Singh and Mansi Joshi managed to pick up a solitary wicket and leaked runs at around four runs per over, resulting in the opposition team getting off to a flying start in the powerplay. 

In ODIs since 2021, the Indian pacers have balls per wicket ratio of 53.4, the worst among the top six teams with a minimum of five wickets in the first 10 overs of the field restrictions. 

The road ahead

With an eye on finalising their combinations for the mega event scheduled to commence on 4th March, the two sides will look to fine-tune their skills in the remaining three matches. 

While the series is still alive and the Women in Blue would be desperate to search for their first win on this tour, the form of their vice-captain, Harmanpreet Kaur and the return of Smriti Mandhana will be crucial for the side heading into the iconic tournament.