On the eve of the first ODI against England, Indian women’s skipper Mithali Raj said the team expects young Shafali Verma to provide them "head starts" consistently but added that her side has enough batting depth to rebuild the innings in case the teenager fails.
Having impressed one and all in the shortest format of the game and in her maiden Test outing, Shafali is set to make her ODI debut in the three-match series versus England, starting Sunday (June 27) in Bristol.
She made her Test debut against England in Bristol last week, scoring 96 and 63 to make a lasting impression on the cricket fraternity.
"There will be times when she gives us a head start. We would love that to be consistent but at the same time she's a young kid, she'll learn with experience, she'll also learn how to build an innings," Mithali said at the pre-match press conference.
"Since she's getting into playing the ODI format for the first time, I as a captain encourage her to play the way she enjoys playing is comfortable playing, that's the style of batting she should do.
"If we lose early wickets, we as experienced batters in the middle-order are there to rebuild, or if we get a good start, take the momentum forward. We have the batting depth to do that," she added.
India managed to draw the one-off Test despite suffering a middle-order collapse and Mithali said the red-ball performance has boosted the team's confidence.
"We look really positive going into the World Cup. The way the girls performed to save the Test has added confidence to the unit. England is a very good side, one of the best in the world.
"They will have the advantage playing at home. But we have players who have played leagues here in England, we'll gather information from them and that will help us do well."
Earlier this year, India lost the home ODI series to South Africa and the skipper wants the team to get back to winning ways, bearing in mind the World Cup in New Zealand.
“New Zealand is windier than England. I wouldn't say similar conditions, but more or less, the wickets there are far better. The last time we played there, it was a good One-day series. Our preparation has already started, when we get into a series we always look to win.
“We consider game plans/combinations in the run up to the World Cup, but it's important to win a game, series. The last series was not very good for the team, as captain I want the team to get back to winning ways.”
Asked why the Indian team prefers defending totals instead of chasing, Mithali replied: "We have defended totals in the past, we have the bowling attack to do that. Spinners, especially, have won matches irrespective of wickets. Even in England in the 2017 World Cup in England, where bowlers have done well, when we have defended targets.”
"It all depends on how as a team we put on a total if we bat first or if we have a total to defend, it boils down to the rhythm and timing of the batters and bowlers."
(With PTI inputs)
