IS IT TIME TO TALK ABOUT FIVE-BOWLER STRATEGY?

India’s dependence on part-timers could hurt them vs stronger sides

- GOMESH S @ Visakhapatnam

IT was about 5.30 PM here at the ACA-VDCA Stadium here on Friday. The Australian team, having landed in the city the day before, had completed their training sessions, while the Women in Blue had arrived for optional practice. After all, less than 20 hours ago, they had just lost a crucial tie against South Africa at the same venue.

India’s vice-captain Smriti Mandhana was the first to walk on to the field, going through her warm-ups before padding up. Even as the rest — Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Radha Yadav and Amanjot Kaur — were warming up, there was an impromptu meeting going on between skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and head coach Amol Muzumdar in front of the dugout. They stood there for more than 20 minutes, having an intense discussion about the skipper’s stance and footwork — that is what it seemed like.