Have to work quite a bit by way of our bowling division: Mithali Raj

India skipper Mithali Raj stated that the group wanted to “work a lot” on its bowling after struggling a nine-wicket drubbing by the hands of Australia within the first girls’s ODI right here on Tuesday.

India’s issues in each the batting and bowling division have been laid naked because the mighty hosts chased down a goal of 226 with none bother to increase their record-winning streak to 25.

“Well, see, you do have plans, but again it is about executing it on the ground, sometimes the bowlers don’t get the rhythm, but there are times when you know they get the rhythm but the plan isn’t working,” Mithali stated on the post-match press convention.

“Yes we have a lot to work in terms of our bowling department because, predominantly, we are spin attack and spinners are getting hit everywhere, so that is something we need to tweak in,” she added.

India may solely handle 225 for eight in an innings that by no means obtained the momentum it wanted after which the hosts gunned down the goal in 41 overs as India’s bowling lacked the tooth to bother them.

Mithali, who accomplished 20,000 profession runs, lamented that the batters couldn’t construct partnerships.

“See, when you recognize the (sort of) batting line up the Australians have, something nearer to 250, is what we have been taking a look at, however shedding two wickets, particularly batters like Shafali (Verma) and Smriti (Mandhana) within the power-play itself.

“So, it was vital that the middle-order begins to compensate for that and construct a partnership, that’s what we did with Yastika (Bhatia), however once more we did not get sufficient partnerships within the lower-middle as effectively.

“We need to now have partnerships, rather than thinking about playing fearless cricket, the girls need to get down to developing some partnerships in the middle and that definitely will give them confidence at some point to play fearless,” she quipped.

Speaking in regards to the significance of a superb opening stand, Mithali stated that the group would anticipate some runs from Mandhana, who has been taking part in worldwide cricket for some time.

“I imply, see the opening partnership, if they offer us a superb begin, clearly the middle- order can take the momentum from there, however in case you lose early wickets, you truly must construct an innings.

“In the first 10 overs, so you know Smriti (Mandhana) has been in international circuit for a while, so we would expect some runs from her,” stated Mithali, including that the group was planning to have a look at all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar for the the World Cup and so it was vital to attempt her out.

On her private kind, Mithali, who scored her fifth consecutive half-century, stated, “I’ve all the time felt, regardless of what number of runs I rating, there’s all the time some scope for enchancment and I wish to maintain my recreation.

“I wish to evolve as a participant too, I do know that I’ve been scoring runs nevertheless it is not sufficient for the group to win, so there’s all the time room for enchancment.

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Mithali has faced criticism for her strike-rate and she responded by saying, “Well, for me batting is all the time about state of affairs, not about strike price.
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She insisted that whereas she desires to enhance on this facet, it would not strike her thoughts when she walks in to bat.

“If you’re shedding wickets on the different hand, you positively do not wish to find yourself scoring 150 all out.
So, I do not actually give that a lot of a thought to the strike-rate.

“Yes, it is always in my mind to improve on that aspect, I wouldn’t say that I definitely don’t think about it, but that is something (that) doesn’t cross my mind when I walk in to bat.
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Mithali stated that Harmanpreet Kaur‘s health was monitored by the group physio.
Harmanpreet missed the primary recreation resulting from a thumb damage.