Indian Women’s team has played one series since March 2020, and the lack of preparation due to extended quarantine could be a major concern.
India women’s cricket team will embark on a much anticipated England tour on June 2. The tour kick-starts with a one-off Test in Bristol from June 16, which will be their first red-ball fixture in seven years. Following the Test, India will take on England in three ODIs and three T20Is.
India’s head coach Ramesh Powar and the captain of Test & ODI team Mithali Raj addressed a press conference ahead of their departure to the UK.
Indian women have played only one series since their T20 World Cup campaign last year in March. India lost both the ODI and T20I series against South Africa at home. In May, the board appointed Ramesh Powar as the head coach, and the UK tour will be the first assignment of his second India coaching tenure.
Indian women cricketers have also had to undergo a 14-day quarantine in Mumbai before they fly to the UK. They will have to undergo another isolation period upon their arrival in Southampton. On being asked if the excessive quarantine will affect the team’s preparation Powar stated that it’s not ideal, but they’re getting to play.
“It’s not ideal, worldwide, right now. We are trying to look at the bright side. If you see, women’s cricketers are getting opportunities – Test cricket, ODIs and T20Is. It’s a good, long tour of 45 days, and we as a team are grateful to the BCCI for putting up such a tour. It’s not easy.”
“It’s not physically possible, yes, [to prepare oneself adequately], but mental make-up might make a huge difference and I think in my last assignment we’ve tried that, and it paid dividends. I have done it with the Mumbai [men’s] team,”
Ramesh Powar said.
Powar further talked about how the team can adapt to the conditions where the ball will be seaming around all over the place. He stressed the importance of playing close to the body and being patient. Powar assured that they would go in with the plans, and players are determined to work hard.
