Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
India could not have asked for a better start to their Women’s T20 World Cup campaign after a dominant win over Pakistan. Their spinners had already impressed in the warm-up matches, and on Sunday, the quartet of Deepti Sharma, Shafali Verma, Shreyanka Patil and Shree Charani once again showcased their value by playing a crucial role in the victory.
While India have begun the tournament on a positive note, the challenges are only set to grow tougher with heavyweights Australia and South Africa still to come in Group A.
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Although the spin attack has been India’s biggest strength, there are areas that require attention. Fast bowling remains one of them. From the T20I series against South Africa, the pace trio of Kranti Goud, Arundhati Reddy and Renuka Singh have struggled to maintain control, often conceding runs at a high rate and allowing opposition batters to break free.
There is little doubt that India’s spinners will be central to their hopes of a deep run in the tournament. However, conditions may not always favour them. India are set to face Australia at Lord’s, a venue that has traditionally offered assistance to seamers.
With South Africa also firmly in the race for a semi-final spot, that clash against Australia could prove decisive in determining who progresses from a highly competitive Group B.
STOP OVER-PROTECTING RENUKA
It is difficult to ignore the fact that Renuka Singh remains the leader of India’s pace attack. Yet, surprisingly, she has not played a single match since the T20I series against South Africa. The fast bowler only returned from a lengthy injury layoff in September last year, and since then, the Indian team management appears to have taken an extremely cautious approach with her workload.
That caution was evident during last year’s ODI World Cup as well, when she did not feature in every match. Against Pakistan in the Women’s T20 World Cup opener at Edgbaston, India opted for Kranti and Arundhati instead.
While Shreyanka, Deepti, Shafali and Charani dominated proceedings, the pace duo struggled to make an impact, conceding 35 runs in three overs without picking up a wicket.
Those expensive overs allowed Pakistan to race to 52 in the powerplay and briefly put themselves in a position to challenge India. Fortunately for the Women in Blue, the spinners pulled things back. But what if they hadn’t?
That is precisely why India need to back their premier fast bowler. Major tournaments are the occasions for which players like Renuka are managed carefully.
While she endured a difficult series in South Africa, the fact that she is India’s leading wicket-taker among pacers in Women’s T20Is can’t be ignored. With tougher challenges ahead, logic suggests India should bring her back into the XI sooner rather than later.
WHY NOT NANDNI?
Even if India are not inclined to bring back Renuka, they do have a promising young option in Nandni Sharma. Nandni played a key role in helping Delhi Capitals reach the WPL final, where she impressed with a five-wicket haul and a hat-trick against Gujarat Giants, catching the attention of selectors.
The Chandigarh pacer went on to justify her potential at the international level as well, recording the second-best figures by an Indian pacer on Women’s T20I debut. Known for her ability to swing the ball, she could be particularly effective in English conditions. Her three-wicket haul on debut in Chelmsford further showed her suitability for seaming, swing-friendly surfaces.
On the other hand, Kranti has struggled for consistency, bowling just one over against Pakistan in which she conceded 14 runs. In comparison, Nandni offers a fresher option and could emerge as India’s surprise package, especially against batters from South Africa and Australia, the very line-ups she has already bowled against in the WPL.
FIELDING NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
While fast bowling remains a concern, India also need to sharpen their fielding. Smriti Mandhana took an outstanding catch to dismiss Ayesha Zafar, while Shreyanka Patil produced a brilliant effort to remove Rameen Shamim. However, lapses in the field continue to be an issue.
Shreyanka was left frustrated after two catches went down off her bowling. First Richa Ghosh dropped Muneeba Ali early, and later Arundhati offered another reprieve. Could those missed chances have changed the course of the innings? Muneeba eventually fell for 41 off 35, and India got lucky this time.
But what happens when such chances come against elite batters like Laura Wolvaardt or World No.1 Georgia Voll? Will India be able to afford similar errors, or will they be punished severely?
The win against Pakistan was a solid start, with a net run rate of 3.25, but it wasn’t as convincing as it looked. And with semi-final qualification still far away, India can’t afford anything less than their sharpest fielding and better decision-making against Australia and South Africa.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
