With expectations from millions of cricket frenzy fans all around the world, the Indian women’s team embarked on their journey to attain the prestigious trophy in the eleventh edition of the ICC Women’s World Cup to be held in England.
The Indian team has been in terrific form in the lead up to the iconic tournament and will be looking to stamp their authority on the world stage with some dominant performances. With the tournament commencing today, it will bring back some painful memories to a few players in the squad who were also present in the last edition of the tournament at home.
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Despite a formidable team, the pressure of playing at home in front of packed crowds got the better of the side as they faltered in the group stages of the competition.
However, a positive aspect for the squad is that the current team has plenty of fresh faces which will provide them with enthusiasm and spark on the field. While most of them will be playing their first major tournament, six players in the squad have the experience of playing in the last edition.
Here is the list of players who featured in the last edition of the tournament:
#6 Ekta Bisht
The left arm spinner is the first cricketer from Almora, Uttarakhand to represent the country. Despite the conducive conditions for spinners, Bisht failed to have an impact and returned with a solitary wicket in the three matches she featured in the last edition.
The 31-year-old will be looking to erase the scars of the tournament and make amends with significant contributions in the bowling department and help the Indian team in achieving what they never have.
#5 Mona Meshram
The stylish right-handed batswoman paved her way back into the squad last season by some consistent performances in the domestic circuit for Vidharbha. Despite being part of the team in the last edition, the 25-year-old failed to feature in any of the four league matches of the competition.
She opened the batting for the team in the Qualifiers of the World Cup in Sri Lanka earlier this year, but with the return of Punam Raut and Smriti Mandhana at the top of the order, Mona has been handed the responsibility of batting in the middle order for the team.
#4 Punam Raut
The opening batswoman started the 2013 edition of the tournament on a positive note after scoring a match-winning half-century in the inaugural match of the tournament against West Indies. However, her performance with the bat soon started deteriorating, and she was dropped from the squad in the subsequent tournaments.
The time away from the team proved to be a blessing in disguise for Raut as she worked on the basics in the batting department and came back strongly in the squad for the Quadrangular series in South Africa.
The tournament proved to be a turning point for her as she performed consistently well at the top of the order to establish her place in the side. The right-handed batter also notched up her first ever hundred in the shorter format of the game against Ireland in the tournament.
#3 Harmanpreet Kaur
Harmanpreet Kaur played one of the most memorable knocks for the Indian team in the last edition of the tournament, albeit in a losing cause. Chasing 273 runs for victory against England, the hard-hitting right-hander scored 107 runs off 109 balls to give the Indian team a slim hope of recording a massive run chase in the league match of the competition.
The 28-year-old has been a consistent performer for the team over the past couple of years and is currently one of the mainstays in the batting unit of the side. The hard-hitting batter was also the first player from the nation to be selected for the Women’s Big Bash League earlier this year.
Along with her batting prowess, Harmanpreet is also an outstanding fielder and more than useful bowler for Mithali Raj in the shorter format. Her experience of international cricket and fearless attitude will help the fortunes of the side in the upcoming edition of the tournament.
#2 Jhulan Goswami
The tall right arm medium pacer was the most successful bowler for the Indian team in the last edition of the tournament with nine wickets in the four matches she competed in. She was the lone bright spot in a rather dismal performance by the hosts.
Goswami will be riding high on confidence after her performances in the recently concluded Quadrangular series held in South Africa where she became the highest wicket taker in the history of the One Day Internationals.
One of the most experienced bowlers in the Indian team, Goswami will shoulder the responsibility of guiding the young bowling unit on conditions conducive for swing bowlers.
Her exploits with the ball will be crucial for the fortunes of the team in the forthcoming World Cup.
#1 Mithali Raj
The skipper of the Indian team, Mithali Raj will be featuring in her fifth World Cup. A vital cog in the batting line-up of the Indian team, Mithali Raj has time and again bailed the side out of crunch situations and helped the team get over the line.
In the 2013 edition of the tournament, one of the primary reasons for India’s early exit from the competition was the lack of runs from Raj in the middle order. One of the most experienced players in the Indian team, she failed to contribute in the first three league matches of the tournament.
However, she returned strongly with the bat by scoring an unbeaten hundred in the last league match against Pakistan at Cuttack. Despite the century, the Indian team failed to make it to the final four stage of the tournament held in India.
The 34-year-old is currently the second highest run scorer in the international circuit and a key member of the batting line-up of the Indian team. She is expected to shoulder the bulk of responsibility in the batting department and guide the young team in the showpiece event.
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