ICC Women’s World Cup 2017: 5 areas where the Indian Women’s team needs improvement 

#2 Better the run-rate in the middle overs

Poonam Raut was the only one who looked keen to take quick singles in the WWC

One of the major concerns of the batting unit in the tournament was the slow run-rate in the middle overs. When batting first, the aim is to set a high target and playing too many dot balls puts pressure on the middle and the lower-middle order.

It helped that Smriti Mandhana, who opened the innings with Poonam Raut in all the games, scored quickly and heavily in the first two games. But the problem was conspicuous when she failed.

Extra cover: ICC Women's World Cup 2017: 6 Indian players who didn't get the credit they deserved

While Mithali Raj, who is the backbone of the Indian middle-order and the top run scorer in the WWC 2017 for India, scored important runs, the strike rate was still in question. And while Harmanpreet Kaur has the ability to clear the ropes at will, she is generally a slow starter. Also Poonam Raut who scored 381 runs in 9 innings has a strike-rate of 67.43, which can be better.

India need to find ways to keep the score board ticking in the middle overs when the spinners are in operation.