As India’s men cricketers were slogging out in the UAE to get used to the pitch conditions in the Gulf region before the T-20 World Cup starts at the same venue, their women counterparts were also having fighting hard in Australia. In the three-match ODI series, Mithali Raj and Co could only manage a single consolation victory in the final ODI, but the scoreline does not reflect the missed opportunities of the team, several dropped catches and a contentious no-ball decision that went against India. However, with the victory, the Indian team ended Australia’s 26 match-winning streak and that is a small consolation post some heartbreaking moments. However, several people are questioning the future of this team especially after the retirements of veteran cricketers such as Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami. These questions can only be answered by some young talents who can take the legacy of Indian cricket forward. So, let us find out who these players are.
Smriti Mandhana
As an accomplished opener, Smrithi provides solid starts for Team India most of the time. Hence, she remains one of the best hopes for Indian cricket after the exits of some stalwarts in the near future. After making her Test debut in 2014 she has not looked back even once. A batter blessed with immaculate timing, shots flow seamlessly from her willows but consistency problems have plagued her off late, so she needs to play with more responsibility in the times to come.
Shafali Verma
The young opener is another promising cricketer as far as Indian cricket is concerned. Her audacity as a batter has always reminded people of the batting of India’s men’s swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag. Like the Nawab of Najafgarh, Shafali does not believe in playing a waiting game as she is devoted to hitting fours and sixes. But she should inculcate the habit of playing as per the circumstances of each game going forward for the well-being of her team.
Deepti Sharma
As one of the best all-rounders in world cricket today, Deepti is to India’s women squad as Ravindra Jadeja is to men’s outfit. Similar to the Saurashtra player, she is also very athletic on the field and saved several runs for her team as a fielder. Another advantage of having her in the team is her flexibility to switch gears and to play as per the needs of the team. She can be very handy during the middle overs, when the opposition tries to consolidate, with her uncanny abilities to take wickets. So, she can be a vital cog in the future Indian team.
Harmanpreet Kaur
The current T-20 captain carries the hopes of billions of cricket lovers, irrespective of the format when she walks out to bat just like Sachin or Virat. Apart from being a batting lynchpin, Harman happens to be a good spinner, who can inflict some crucial blows to the opposition. Kaur’s ability to hit big shots regularly has earned her praise from all corners and enabled a plum offer from Australia’s T-20 league, Big-Bash. So, she is another significant candidate to take Indian cricket into the future, but she needs to keep a watch on her fitness as she is prone to injuries.
Sneh Rana
Rana’s bravura act against England recently in a Test match where she scripted an incredible jailbreak to escape with a draw is still fresh in everyone’s memory. She is another all-rounder that India can accommodate alongside Deepti Sharma in the final XI. Even in the recently concluded ODI series against Australia, she scored a useful 30 in the third ODI but left others with the task of finishing off the game. However, by persisting with her, she can be developed into a world-class all-rounder with the ability to end games with clinical precision.
