Indian women’s team head coach Amol Muzumdar provided a much-anticipated update on Harmanpreet Kaur’s injury ahead of the three-match ODI series against the West Indies. Muzumdar expressed optimism about Harmanpreet’s return for the series. India’s regular captain suffered a knee niggle while batting during the first T20I against the West Indies in Navi Mumbai, which forced her to miss the final two matches of the series. Nonetheless, the Women in Blue triumphed 2-1, with Smriti Mandhana stepping up as captain and leading the team with three consecutive fifties in Harmanpreet’s absence.
“Harmanpreet is going to bat today in the nets… a complete, full nets schedule. We’ll take a call once the nets are over, and I’m sure she’ll be fine,” Muzumdar stated during the pre-series press conference.
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The coach acknowledged that the team will feel the absence of young wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia, who is sidelined due to injury, during the three-match ODI series. However, he assured that the management would focus on selecting the best eleven from the 15-member squad.
“Yes, we will feel the absence of some players. Yastika Bhatia is injured, she is doing rehab at NCA. Hopefully, she will be fit and fine very soon. So, we will try and pick the best XI from the 15-member squad here,” he said.
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For the ODI series, India have given a call-up to Delhi batter Pratika Rawal, who was the second-highest run-scorer in the previous edition of the Senior Women’s One-Day Trophy. The 24-year-old scored 411 runs from eight games at an average of 68.50 and a strike-rate of 91.94.
Alongside Partika, Tanuja Kanwer earned her maiden ODI call-up, with Muzumdar advising them to “go out and enjoy” their time on the field.
“There are couple of new entrants in the ODI lineup. (I say) just go out there and enjoy yourself and spend some time in the middle.
“That’s the most important thing. Even in training, we would like to practice the way we are going to play in a match, so that’s the message to the newcomers in the team,” he said.
