Harmanpreet Kaur Unavailable For First ODI vs Australia, Ramesh Powar Confirms

India Women’s team head coach Ramesh Powar has confirmed the unavailability of senior batswoman Harmanpreet Kaur for the upcoming first ODI against Australia. The full-fledged tour of Australia begins on September 21 with the ODI series.

Powar revealed that Harmanpreet suffered a thumb injury during the practice sessions which has ruled her out of the opening match. Although Harmanpreet has been out of form of late, her experience would have helped the middle-order.

“Harmanpreet Kaur was deemed fit and hence she was selected for this tour, but unfortunately some days back she got a hit on the thumb so she is not available for the first ODI. The next ODI, we will take a call according to her pain and fitness management. Shikha Pandey is fit and fine, she is available for selection.”

“As a batting unit, we want to score above 250 consistently. Bowling we are trying to bowl out the opponents so we are trying to use Jhulan upfront so that she can give us breakthroughs. We expect the senior players to guide youngsters which they are doing,” Powar said at a virtual press conference.

We have to give Shafali Verma a little breathing space – Ramesh Powar

Women’s team opener, Shafali Verma, has been firing hot and cold but a lot of it might be down to the expectations people have. At the age of 17 years, she deserves to be given more room for error and also the freedom to express herself on the stage, as per Ramesh Powar.

“As far as Shafali is concerned, I think the way she played the Test game, we were happy. As a 17-year-old, we have to give her a little breathing space. Me, Mithali, and SS Das have had conversations with her.“

“She knows what is expected out of her, we do not push her who is very expressive in her batting. We do not want to curtail her game, we want to give her freedom. She has played The Hundred so she has some confidence from that, it is important for us to let her express, she is just 17, we cannot forget that,” Powar added.

The series against Australia consists of 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is, along with a historic pink-ball day-night Test.

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