ICC Women's World Cup 2022: Mithali Raj Should Bat At No.3 - Veda Krishnamurthy

Indian women’s team batter Veda Krishnamurthy said that the Indian women’s team should consider using the right-left combination in the top order in their batting line-up.

India lost to Sophie Devine-led New Zealand side by 62 runs at the Seddon Park in Hamilton in their second match of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2022.

Indian all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar picked four wickets as the Indian bowlers collectively did a decent job to restrict the hosts to a moderate score of 260/9 in the first innings.

Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur didn’t pile enough runs in middle overs

India lost Smriti Mandhana (6) and Deepti Sharma (5) in the first ten overs with Yastika Bhatia, who replaced Shafali Verma in this game, had a stagnant start to her first match in World Cup as she made 28 off 59 balls before she was caught by Frances Mackay off Lea Tahuhu’s bowling.

Mithali came into bat at No.4 scoring 31 off 56 balls and was involved in a 47-run alliance with Harmanpreet Kaur in the middle where India were dried up in terms of scoring runs in order to not take enough risks.

Although Harmanpreet hammered 20 runs to New Zealand pacer Jess Kerr in the 44th over, the required run rate was above 14 runs/over and India just had three wickets left. Harmanpreet soon departed in the quest of playing big shots and very soon India’s innings folded up on 198 as the White Ferns won by 62 runs.

Mithali Raj should come at No. 3: Veda Krishnamurthy

Veda, who was part of India’s 2017 World Cup campaign, said the Indian team should have gone with the left-right combination and expected the Indian skipper to bat at No.3.

“You are right, we could have probably used the right-left combination because we saw how difficult it was for our bowlers when they were bowling to the left and right-handed combination. I am not sure if they missed a trick because we have three left-handers and all three got over in the top three,” Veda said on Star Sports. 

“I am saying from the first match that Mithali Raj should come at No. 3. I don’t know when she will do that but I feel she could have come in this match because it was a big target and she could have controlled the innings. She can build the innings and can manage one end,” she added. 

India will play their next match against West Indies on March 12 while the hosts will take on their neighbours Australia on March 13.

Also Read: ICC Women’s World Cup 2022: Smriti Mandhana And Deepti Sharma Are Crucial Components Of Our Team- Ravichandran Ashwin