Harmanpreet Kaur Ruled Out Of Pink-Ball Test Against Australia, Confirms Skipper Mithali Raj

Mithali Raj, India women’s Test and ODI skipper, has confirmed that star batter Harmanpreet Kaur won’t be available for selection for the upcoming pink-ball Test against Australia due to a thumb injury.

She had sustained this injury a few days ahead of the first ODI and consequently missed the 3-match ODI series as well, which the hosts won by 2-1. Harmanpreet played in the Test against England in June; she returned with scores of 4 and 8 and has been out of form for a while.

On Wednesday, during a pre-match presser, Mithali Raj was asked about the update on Harmanpreet Kaur. Without much explanation, the skipper simply said: “She is ruled out for the Test match.”

I think it is a good pace department that we now have in the side: Mithali Raj

The upcoming Day-Night Pink-Ball Test, to be played at Carrara Oval, is the first such encounter for the Indian women side; it is for Mithali Raj, an 11-Test veteran. She talked about the adjustments players need to make for the pink ball.

“I think the first session we had with the pink ball was yesterday. Yes, everybody had a different experience because we are not used to the pink ball, it does move around quite a bit. I think that is the pretty much first impression we got with the pink ball.”

The Indian skipper is “quite pleased” with the way the pacers bowled during a thrilling ODI series. She reckons the Indian contingent has good depth and options to choose from for the Test match.

“We are quite pleased with the way the three fast bowlers have bowled in the ODI series. Jhulan being the most experienced and she is helping the others — Pooja Vastrakar and Meghna. I think we do have some quality seamers in Meghna and Pooja, we do have Shikha Pandey also. I think it is a good pace department that we now have in the side,” Mithali Raj added.

After the Test match in Queensland, both sides will clash in a 3-T20I series on October 7, 9, and 10 at the same venue.  Harmanpreet Kaur is the T20I captain and is expected to be fit for the T20I series.

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