As the much-anticipated T20I series between India Women and Australia Women kicks off on January 5, 2024, former India cricketer Reema Malhotra points out the crucial areas where the Indian team needs to excel to outshine their formidable opponents. Despite India’s recent success in the one-off Test against Australia and a competitive ODI series, Malhotra identifies fielding as a significant area for improvement.
Speaking on JioCinema, Malhotra emphasizes the need for India Women to elevate their fielding skills to compete effectively against Australia. While acknowledging improvements in fitness, Malhotra highlights the team’s occasional lapses in catching, emphasizing the importance of avoiding repeated mistakes.
To secure victories against Australia, Malhotra urges the India Women team to excel in all three departments—batting, bowling, and fielding. While India Women has shown promise in batting and bowling, the focus on refining fielding skills becomes crucial in the upcoming T20I series.
India Women: Key Players
Discussing the role of bowlers in T20Is, Malhotra singles out key players who can make a significant impact. Shreyanka Patil, with her notable performances against England, has earned praise, and Malhotra sees her as a vital asset in the upcoming matches. Additionally, Deepti Sharma’s consistent form and the impressive display by Pooja Vastrakar 2.0 in the recent series contribute to the bowling strength.
Malhotra underscores the dual contribution of these bowlers, emphasizing their ability to make substantial batting contributions as well. With Shreyanka Patil, Deepti Sharma, and Pooja Vastrakar 2.0 being key players, the former cricketer believes that a lot is riding on their performances in both the bowling and batting departments.
As the India Women team aims to strike a balance and outclass Australia, the spotlight remains on these crucial players in the upcoming T20I series at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.