Harmanpreet Kaur says practice matches against South Africa is key to success

India women's team will play ODI and T20I series in South Africa.

Harmanpreet Kaur | Getty Images

Indian Women's cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur is happy to play practice matches ahead of the upcoming South Africa series. India women's team will play two practice games before clashing with the hosts in a ODI and T20I series. The 50-over series will start from 5th February, while the T20I will kick-off on 13th February. 

"Going early will help us get used to the wickets there. We are getting two practice games and it will help build confidence before the main matches.

"The teams looks good and hopefully we will do well," the 28-year-old told reporters. 

Harmanpreet played Women Big Bash League in Australia and she said the practice which she did there will help her in South Africa. "Yes, the Big Bash was good, though this time I did not get enough chance, but side by side good practice was going on. The wickets there and the practice there will help in South Africa."

Singh is hopeful of India performing well in South Africa. "Actually after the World Cup (last year), this is the first series we are playing, and the tour will be very challenging for us and we are looking forward to it.

"We have prepared, we have done well in this (preparatory) camp and looking forward to do well there," said the batswoman. "We are going to South Africa for a few days extra (early) and there will be 4-5 days camp. "This camp is for both 50 overs and 20 overs...this camp is good for an experience of two new girls (who have joined the team). They have done well in domestic matches and are in a good touch," she added.

India got a much-needed break after the World Cup. Harmanpreet thinks it was important and has benefited the team. "Before the World Cup, we were involved in back-to-back seasons and we did not get break any break. I was injured and there were girls who had niggles and we needed a break. And this break will help us. I know the kind of momentum we got, if one or two series would have happened, then it would have been better for us. At that time the team needed a break, which the BCCI gave us and it was good."

Harmanpreet also added that there is a rise in the number of women's cricket viewers because of their good performance.

"The reason now people are watching us is because of our performance, we are performing from last year well and there are some areas where we need to improve. We are looking at our fielding and fitness and hopefully, these camps will help us improve in the areas where we need to."

The power hitter of India's women's team also spoke on Indian men's team tour to South Africa. She said, "I did not get a chance to speak to them (the men's team). This is a learning process for them and they will do well. If we get chance to talk to them, we will do that and learn from their mistakes".

She lauded Mumbai's Jemimah Rodrigues, who has been picked up in the Indian side due to her steller performance in the domestic cricket.

She is good and has been performing since a long time. We needed players like these, we have a bunch of players but felt that girls should come and perform. "The way she has performed in 2-3 years and if she gets a chance to play, she will be crucial and her performance will be good for the team," Harmanpreet signed off.

(With PTI inputs)

 
 

By Sihyeu Singh - 21 Jan, 2018

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