India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has batted for a points system in multi-format series, such as the upcoming one against South Africa, which includes three ODIs, one Test, and three T20Is.
Currently, the Women’s Ashes has a multi-format points system in use, with six points awarded for winning the Test match, two points for a draw, and two points for winning a limited-overs match. The system was first introduced in 2013 and has worked well to keep every format relevant.
“I think it’s totally a BCCI or an ICC thing [to decide] but as a player, if these things are there, we are more into the game, you know, and we are more pumped up,” Harmanpreet said ahead of the first ODI against South Africa in Bengaluru. “If the points system is there, it will be more challenging.”
This series also brings back the focus on ODIs, the format which will see India host a World Cup at home next year. For the record, India have only played in six ODIs since September 2022, not in the least because the focus was on the 2023 edition of the T20 World Cup, and also the 2024 one which will be held later this year. But with the one-day World Cup also coming up, the 50-overs game will be back in relevance.
On the challenge of adjusting their focus to 100 overs of cricket, Harmanpreet said, “We take it as an opportunity. Nowadays we are playing more T20 games but ODIs are something that as a player, you have more time to access yourself and even the conditions. It’s good for us that we are getting more matches to express ourselves.
“It’s good for us that we are getting more time in the middle and getting to play all three formats.”
Harmanpreet confirmed that Pooja Vastrakar and Jemimah Rodrigues are fit for selection, and that Richa Ghosh is going to keep in the absence of Yastika Bhatia, who in turn is out injured.
The India captain also welcomed back the likes of Priya Punia and Arundhati Reddy to the national fold.
“My message to them is very clear. Even though they were not in the side, they were performers in domestic cricket. We noted the way they have been performing for the past 2-3 years and we gave them enough time to prove themselves again and get ready for international games. We are very happy the way Arundhati played in WPL in the last two seasons, Priya also performed well in domestic cricket especially in the ODI format and she’s someone who’s been scoring for a long time.
“As a team, it’s great to have them back. They are great players and the team is quite balanced. Really happy and now looking forward to it. I hope they will do well in international cricket also.”
SA captain promises positive brand of cricket
Laura Wolvaardt, the South African captain, has said that the batters of her team will be licking their licks at the prospect of having to play at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in the three-match ODI series, set to begin on Sunday, and suggested that they will be looking to play an aggressive brand of cricket.
“In the WPL (Women’s Premier League) a lot of the games here were quite high-scoring,” Wolvaardt said on Saturday. “Our batters will definitely be licking their lips to get onto that surface tomorrow. It’s just about being nice and positive, and playing a brave, aggressive brand of cricket.
“Either way, no matter which way the toss goes, we’ve seen in the WPL that the Indian girls are playing a very positive brand of cricket. So we’re going to have to try and match that.”
South Africa have won 12 out of the 28 ODIs they have played against India, with the last of the two encounters coming more than two years ago in New Zealand, where South Africa secured a dramatic three-wicket win off the last ball. However, South Africa’s form in recent months hasn’t been great.
Plagued with injuries, a slew of retirements and indifferent form, South Africa were cleanswept by Pakistan in the T20I series late last year before they clinched the ODI series 2-1. It was followed by a tour to Australia where they lost the ODIs 2-1 apart from losing all the other games in the rest of the formats. Later, they lost the T20I series 2-1 to Sri Lanka at home before ending the ODI series 1-1.
However, in the last two games of the series, Wolvaardt stroked a couple of centuries following which she hasn’t had a lot of gametime. “I had a bit of a break. I was kind of upset when the season ended after that because I wanted to keep going after having finally found some form. But it’s totally different conditions. Those were all back in South Africa. (The aim is) just to completely start again having had a bit of time at home as well just to reset. I’m excited for the game”
Heading into the three-match series, South Africa have 23 points in 18 games and are placed third on the ICC Women’s Championship table. Wolvaardt is confident that her team has prepared well for the India series and will be able to put up a strong show.
“We’re confident. We’ve done a lot of preparation and a lot of hard work coming into this. So that’s sort of what we need to back. We need to back the work that we’ve done and hope that it’s enough. It’s no secret that India is a really good side at the moment but I do believe that we have a very talented side as well. Hopefully, we’re able to find that consistency within the series,” she said.
