“If the selectors decide to change, I would go for a young captain,” Raj instructed PTI. “That is the time [to change]; for those who delay extra then we’ve got one other [ODI] World Cup on the horizon [October 2025]. In case you are not doing it now, then don’t do it later. Then it’s too near the World Cup.
“Despite playing those cameo roles, she never could convert her starts, but [she is] someone who really made an effort to build a momentum if there was no momentum; and if there was momentum, she tried to carry that momentum [forward].”
Raj highlighted India’s lack of ability to adapt rapidly as the principle cause for his or her poor present. India got here into this match on the again of two months of camps and match simulation in Bengaluru, in contrast to Australia or New Zealand, who performed one another, or South Africa, who scheduled a late tour to Pakistan.
Trying on the greater image, Raj lamented the India staff’s lack of “growth” over the previous three years. She felt India had been “content” beating the lower-ranked groups and have been “saturated” when it got here to tackling huge groups like Australia.
“Why does the men’s team do well? Immediately after a big series or a big tournament, they try others. If we are talking about depth, then when are we giving them chances?”
Mithali Raj
“I feel that in the last two-three years, I’ve not really seen any growth in this team,” Raj stated. “In the sense, like, I mean, beating the best side is what you always prepare for, but it seems like we are saturated in the sense we are beating other teams, and we are pretty happy in that. Every other team has shown growth despite limited depth, a case in point being South Africa. We have not.”
Raj questioned a few of the staff administration’s ways within the lead-up to the World Cup too. Like on the Asia Cup, the place India selected to discipline the regulars and didn’t give alternatives to fringe gamers.
“I was doing commentary in the Asia Cup. To be very honest, I didn’t know what was happening,” she stated. “I’m certain they have been conscious that Asia Cup is the final collection of matches that they’re going to play earlier than the World Cup. When you understand that that is the final sport time that you just’re going to have earlier than you enter the massive match, you do at the very least 70% of your planning or 80% of your planning. Like who your No. 5 or No. 6 is, these are individuals who would stroll in a specific state of affairs. However there it appeared they have been taking part in just for that match.
“It didn’t seem like it was anywhere closer to… what we got to see in the World Cup. We could have given more opportunities to the bench against lower-ranked teams in Asia Cup, but we didn’t. Why does the men’s team do well? Immediately after a big series or a big tournament, they try others. If we are talking about depth, then when are we giving them chances?”
“In terms of fitness, we need to have a benchmark. Honestly, how much can you work in a month? It’s something that you do around the year. It’s not like just before the tournament, you have a camp and it’s just going to really show the difference on the field.”
