Fitness and fielding top priority, says new head coach
MUMBAI: Guided by a new head coach in Amol Muzumdar, a former domestic stalwart, the Indian women's team will look to launch into its preparations for the T20 World Cup in September next year in style when it launches into a busy home season, starting with a three-match T20I series against world No. 2 England at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.
While it may give him some comfort that he begins his new job in his hometown and in a stadium where he has played since he was a teenager, the first task ahead of Muzumdar won't be easy. India have a poor record against England in T20Is, having lost 20 out of 27 games against them while winning just seven. Even playing at home, India have lost seven T20Is to England while winning just two. The last time England played a T20I series in India, in 2019, they blanked the hosts 3-0 at Guwahati.
In his first presser as the head coach, Muzumdar stressed that his team won't be bogged down by history.
"As a team, we have decided to leave the statistics and whatever has happened behind us. We are looking forward to a fresh start. The numbers are there to be seen, but these girls and the team are looking forward to the season ahead. We are not going to go back in history-of course, it is important but at the same time, it is also important to look forward to the season ahead. They are all raring to go," he asserted.
It's apparent that Muzumdar wants the Indian women's team to play the same 'fearless' brand of cricket that their male counterparts were admired for during the 2023 ODI World Cup.
1/10:India look to improve their disappointing bilateral record
<p>India will look to draw confidence from recent performances and improve their disappointing bilateral record against England when the two teams face-off in a three-match women's T20I series, starting in Mumbai on Wednesday. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)<br /></p>
2/10:Successful year for Harmanpreet Kaur-led India
<p>The Harmanpreet Kaur-led India have had a successful year in the shortest format so far, winning the gold medal in the Asian Games, an away series against Bangladesh by 2-1 and also making it to the final of the triangular series in South Africa, with West Indies as the third side. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)<br /></p>
3/10:England look to overcome Sri Lanka disappointment
<p>On the other hand, World No. 2 England will look to overcome the disappointment of losing to Sri Lanka 1-2 at home. World No. 4 India have a poor record at home in T20Is as well as against England in general and the hosts will hope to come up with something special. (ECB Photo)<br /></p>
4/10:Dismal record against England
<p>At home, in nine matches against England, India have only two wins to show with their most recent victory coming more than five years ago in March 2018 when they won by eight wickets at the Brabourne Stadium. In fact, it is India's overall record against England which is also concerning given they only have seven wins to show from 27 matches. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)<br /></p>
5/10:India women's last win at home came in March 2021
<p>Additionally, India women's last win at home in T20Is came more than two years ago in March 2021 when they defeated South Africa in Lucknow by nine wickets. Since then, India have lost four and tied one game while playing at home. The series also presents India an opportunity to improve their disappointing overall home record as they only have 19 wins from 50 T20Is at home with 30 losses and one tied game. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)<br /></p>
6/10:India-England look to fine-tune for 2024 T20 World Cup
<p>Both India and England were the semifinalists of the last T20 World Cup held in South Africa earlier this year. With the next showpiece event slated for September-October 2024, this series presents an opportunity to fine-tune their preparations for the edition in Bangladesh. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)<br /><br /></p>
7/10:Deepti Sharma - India's most successful bowler in 2023
<p>While Deepti Sharma has been India's most successful bowler with 19 wickets in 16 matches with a strike rate of 15.89, it is the batters who have done a commendable job this year in the shortest format, led by Harmanpreet, who has averaged 35.88 to make 323 runs in 13 T20Is with three fifties. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)<br /><br /></p>
8/10:Jemimah has a good run so far
<p>Jemimah Rodrigues has struck 342 runs in 16 matches at 34.20 with one fifty, while India's vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has topped the charts with 369 runs in 15 matches with three fifties while averaging 28.08. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)<br /></p>
9/10:Three new faces in Indian squad
<p>India have three new faces for this series with right-arm Karnataka spinner Shreyanka Patil, Punjab's left-arm spinner Mannat Kashyap and Bengal's Saika Ishaque — another left-arm spinner — being roped in. (Pic Credit - X)<br /></p>
10/10:England rely on all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt
<p>For England, the veteran Nat Sciver-Brunt's all-round exploits in the WPL and her form in international circuit make her the most dangerous player. Besides scoring 332 runs at a strike rate of 140.08 and 10 wickets in WPL in Mumbai's winning campaign, Sciver-Brunt has also amassed 271 runs in only eight T20Is at an average of 45.16. (Reuters Photo)<br /></p>Asked on what his advice would be for the likes of Shafali Varma and Jemimah Rodrigues, who can play attractive strokes, but can also succumb to a loose shots, Muzumdar replied: "Look, we need to play a certain brand of cricket, which we've been known for so far. Shafali and Jemimah are both very important cogs in the wheel. I would like them to continue what they've been doing. Fearless cricket is something which I've always advocated. So, we would be playing that brand of cricket."
The new India women's head coach emphasized that there are two areas on which he won't let his players compromise: "I will touch upon two points. Fielding and fitness are of highest priority. There's no compromise on fielding or fitness. They (the fitness parameters) have already been set and we will follow them rigorously and religiously going forward. We have already had fitness tests at the NCA. There will be three tests in a season."
While bilaterals are important, Muzumdar knows that it is the Indian women's team's performance in the World Cups-2024 T20 World Cup in Bangladesh and then the 50 overs World Cup in 2025 in India-which will be ultimately counted to judge his stint.
"We are moving towards the World Cup. Every series and match will have its own importance and the series against England and Australia will count a lot. We had a chat about it with the team and they are all raring to go. Every step that we take (hereon) is (about) moving towards the World Cup," the head coach said.
Going by the large number of crowds during the home series against Australia last year, the Indian women's team can expect a good turnout to cheer for them in the next few weeks. "It will be a good, well-fought and competitive series for sure. The crowd support will be there and hopefully they (the fans) will come in huge numbers," Muzumdar said.
India have three new faces for this series with right-arm Karnataka spinner Shreyanka Patil, Punjab's left-arm spinner Mannat Kashyap and Bengal's Saika Ishaque-another left-arm spinner-being roped in. All three have put in impressive performances to get a look-in. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side will certainly draw confidence from their last outing, when they won the gold at the Asian Games in September.
Cooley to be bowling coach for both series
Meanwhile, Australia's Troy Cooley will be the bowling coach of the Indian women's team for the upcoming series against England and Australia. Since 2021, the 57-year-old Cooley has been the fast bowling coach at the BCCI's National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. He was the bowling coach of the Indian women's team in the T20 World Cup in South Africa in February.
