ICC Women's World Cup 2017: Six survivors from the last World Cup

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 5 : Jhulan Goswami of India (L) celebrates her wicket with team mates during the NatWest Women's Quadrangular Series between New Zealand and India at Southgate Cricket Club on July 5, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) — The Indian team will be gunning for their first ever World Cup title

#1 Mithali Raj

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 07: Mithali Raj of India bats during game three of the one day international series between Australia and India at Blundstone Arena on February 7, 2016 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) — Mithali Raj will led the Indian team in the World Cup

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.

About the author

Shweta Haranhalli is a cricket enthusiast who plays and writes about the sport. She was the captain of the Mumbai Under-19 team that clinched the All India Championship for the very first time.

She led the Mumbai Senior Women's Cricket Team to Championship in the Azam Shah Cup, their first international tour to Tanzania. She was also at the helm for the Mumbai Senior Women's team in the domestic circuit.

Being associated with cricket for over a decade helps her in writing a detailed analysis of the sport. The journey in the field of writing began in January 2013 as a Sports Writer for Mid-Day, followed by a brief stint with Hotstar for the Indian Premier League.

Shweta has been working as a journalist covering various sporting events across the nation and learning the finer points in the art of writing.

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Edited by Staff Editor