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Mithali Raj explains shocking exclusion of Veda Krishnamurthy from 3rd ODI

The Australian team had reclaimed number one spot in ICC Team Rankings.

Mithali Raj explains shocking exclusion of Veda Krishnamurthy from 3rd ODI

Mithali Raj (Photo: Facebook)

After Australian women team led by Meg Lanning whitewashed India squad in the three-match One day International (ODI) series that was played at the Reliance Stadium in Vadodara, skipper Mithali Raj said that the tournament was an eyeopener for the girls.

With the win, the visitors gain all the points in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Championship. Talking about the defeat, Mithali Raj urged both the batters and the bowlers to get their act together.

“Our fast-bowling unit lacked experience… and that [reflected] very starkly in these ODIs. When you play against a good side, you don’t get anything easy. There is a lot we need to work on, it’s been an eye-opener for all the girls,” Mithali Raj said after India’s clean-sweep.

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“Even though we have beaten South Africa, it was not going to be easy against Australia, or England, who I believe also have a very good squad. As Indian team, we need to understand our strengths [batting] and make that [department] even stronger [so that] it overshadows the other department that has lackings. [That’s something] we couldn’t do in these three one-day games. Bowling wasn’t supportive, nor did our batting come good. At least one department needs to click,” Mithali added..

Meanwhile, with their consecutive win in three-matches by eight wickets, 60 runs and 97 runs, Australia team had reclaimed number one spot in ICC Team Rankings.

Mithali Raj also praises Australia’s lower-order and said that’s the primary reason why they outsmart us in our own backyard.

Visitors No. 6, 7 and 8 batters– Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, and Nicola Carey have had performed exceptionally well in the recently concluded series.

“In every game, one of their openers have made a major contribution, [and] having said that, even their middle-order didn’t pitch in. But they had the lower middle-order contributing till the end. I think that’s where we haven’t bowled according to the plan that we wanted to execute on the ground. When you set the field on one side and bowl on the other and it’s costing you boundaries after boundaries, you can’t do much,” Raj further said.

“There were occasions where we were far ahead [in run-rate at the top]. It’s only from the powerplay till the 50th over [where] they have those big hitters, which we don’t have in our batting order, [that’s making the difference]. We have to start from the beginning to have that net run rate going for us, because we know in lower-order we don’t have big-hitters in our side who can change match scenario,” Mithali Raj further said.

Speaking about her shocking decision to exclude Veda Krishnamurthy from the squad for the 3rd ODI, Mithali Raj said she wanted Veda Krishnamurthy to “take some responsibility”.

“It’s just how we have given Jemimah [Rodrigues] a chance today,” Raj said while explaining the inclusion of Mona Meshram in place of Veda. “There are some players who need to sit out for a game, realise where they have gone wrong. We definitely haven’t doubted the calibre of Veda Krishnamurthy. She has played those innings [in the past] but in the second match, the way she got out at a time when… we required her to be little more responsible,” Mithali Raj reasoned.

“See where the ICC Championship is concerned, the points are very important. But if the points system is not in place on a tour, then we can definitely give more opportunities to the players who have not had a great outing,” she said, adding. “And definitely [to] young players who we think have the ability to play in future for India. We want to give them that experience so that whenever they get that opportunity to debut (play big games) for India, they’re in a better frame of mind.”

“It will take some time, but we do have few players [waiting] in the wings who we are looking at. In another two-three years, [definitely] by the 2021 World Cup, I’m sure they would be prepared,” she concluded.

Well, while Veda Krishnamurthy had to sit out to learn “responsibility”, it seems the captain didn’t think there was need for such a decision for India vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur too who had not done much for India in the recently concluded series.

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