Young guns step up during A series to show potential

ONE look at the playing XIs for the three-match T20 series between India A and England A would confirm the contrasting aims of the two sides. While England A had the likes of Charlie Dean and Issy Wong, who have represented England on multiple occasions, including World Cups and Ashes, India A's most experienced player was their captain, Minnu Mani, who made her debut just this year against Bangladesh and has played all of four T20Is for the senior team.

- KALYANI MANGALE

On the one hand, England A wanted most of their players, who have not played in sub-continental conditions before, to get acquainted with the enviornment. India preferred their young performers to gain some much-needed experience at the level, which is different from their domestic challenge and closer to the international cricket. And even though the result didn't go their way, they learned many lessons. India's defence of 134 runs in the first T20, even after a fine half-century from Hollie Armitage, showed a sense of maturity in the young players, especially that by the bowling unit who took five wickets in the last five overs, without conceding a boundary. Captain Minnu used five bowling o