Former captain Anjum Chopra stated on Wednesday that Harmanpreet Kaur should bat at No. 3 as he possesses the range of shots necessary to dominate a game. India should consider rearranging its lineup before the T20 World Cup.
The fashionable batter of the past is also concerned that the bowling attack may not be effective enough in close games.
While there are enough of options for India at No. 3, captain Kaur shouldn’t deprive herself of longer batting innings, according to Chopra.
“I’ve always felt that Harman should play at No 3. I’ve told her also. But of course, depending upon the scenario, and, every player’s comfort is (also) there,” Chopra told PTI in an exclusive interview.
“She is one of those players, who can control the game and will have more time, rather than coming in later and then swinging her bat. Why reduce the number of deliveries?,” she said.
Chopra attributed the Indian team’s defeat in the Asia Cup final to a lack of competition up until that point.
“Even if they have won this Asia Cup, it would have been like ‘oh, we are a better team’. But because they didn’t, they got a wake-up call and I am hoping it is a wake-up call. Not in a bad way but in a good way,” she said.
“They were not challenged and whenever they were, it was okay, it wasn’t like digging in deep to come out victorious. When Sri Lanka posed a challenge to them, especially after winning against Pakistan in the semifinal, they were a team on a high.”
“Once (Vishmi) Gunaratne was run out in confusion with Chamari Athapaththu and then the second wicket fell, I thought they are missing on the barrel. But for Sri Lanka to bounce out of that situation and win convincingly, that was a high,” she continued.
Chopra stated that India’s team still needs improvement, pointing out Sri Lanka’s recent progress.
“We lost 2-1 to England. We lost 2-1 to Australia. We were challenged by South Africa. When we go to the Asia Cup, there are other teams also challenging us,” she said.
“Sri Lanka didn’t even qualify for the 2022 World Cup in New Zealand because they didn’t have any cricket for two-and-a-half years during Covid. But look where they are now.”
She asked everyone a straightforward question. Has the cohesiveness of Harmanpreet and her band improved? There is no one correct answer.
“Has our team shown that kind of advancement and improvement? Yes, to a certain extent. But are we still plugging in those gaps whereby we are not conceding defeat?,” she questioned.
“The reason why we lost the Asia Cup final (was) because we are still not plugging those gaps,” she said.
“Certain decisions are obviously not favorable. Certain resources that we have at the disposal are not favourable. You have to make do with what you have, which is probably not quite there right now to become world leaders,” she said.
Chopra cited bowling as one of India’s biggest concern at the moment.
“Look, we have a Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami in men’s team. When we have these bowlers around, we boast of a bowling lineup like no one in this world and this wasn’t achieved overnight,” she said.
“I’m not saying that overnight we will have these kind of quality bowlers in the women’s team as well. We are playing with only five bowlers. Now that one bowler has a bad day, we are challenged,” she said.
Bowling options in India are limited, she accepted.
Perhaps we are without options. Perhaps players aren’t there because they are injured. Perhaps all those injured players have become less skilled, or perhaps they have simply slipped from view. She remarked, “We do have a decent bowling lineup, but not a penetrating one.
Citing Tahlia McGrath’s presence, Chopra also questioned the lack of key India players from the current series versus Australia ‘A’.
It’s not looking good for us in Australia. There is an India A match. Even when Meghana Singh is playing with an Indian squad, she is not taken into consideration for selection. Why is she playing there, then? said she.
“Why doesn’t Titas Sadhu participate in this? Why does India A not include Sobhana Asha? Jemimah Rodrigues deserves to have been a member of this Australian squad, in my opinion. Why isn’t she present?
“Those who did not choose for “The Hundred” after exiting the South African series. Why does Australia’s top player, Tahlia McGrath, not include any current Indian players in that?
“We need reevaluate our starting lineup a little bit and hope that a few players can enter as possibilities. We absolutely need more bowling options, quick fielders, and all-around players,” she remarked.
