Top-order conundrum continues for India

"NUMBER three is something special to us," stated India coach Amol Muzumdar in the pre-departure press conference ahead of the Women's T20 World Cup in Dubai.

- KALYANI MANGALE

It is a well-established fact in white ball cricket that whoever comes to bat one down has an enormous responsibility on their shoulders. If the team has lost an early wicket, the number three has to settle the nerves and create a base on which the rest of the innings can stand. If the openers have provided the base, number three has a responsibility to launch from there.

Leading into the ninth edition of the event, India has not been able to answer the big question of who is going to take up that role. Since their usual number three, Jemimah Rodrigues, moved down to five, India have given opportunity to multiple players to bat at three.