Mithali Raj on Indian cricket team's long break post 2017 ICC Women's World Cup
Mumbai: Indian women’s cricket team captain Mithali Raj sounded confident on Tuesday ahead of their tour to South Africa, starting in February.
Speaking during a press conference here, ahead of the team’s departure to the African nation, Mithali said that the team is eager to put up a good show, and will start the series on a fresh note.
“Before the World Cup, we were quite busy with the qualifiers, and other series as a preparation for the tournament. It has been a long series for us. After the World Cup, it was important for the girls to recover from injuries.
"Ideally, players would have preferred a continuation momentum, but, when you have injuries in your side, it is also important the need to have time to recover and get back into your fitness levels and look forward for the future tournaments,” she said.
Mithali was asked about the long break after the Women’s World Cup in England last year, and said that the break has helped them prepare for the tour in a better way.
“In a way, it is good, because all of the players are fit, we have been playing domestic cricket and we have had enough time to prepare for the series. It is again a beginning for us. We need to start afresh.
“We have two other series lined up after the South Africa tour. Looking forward, it is always good to start the year on a fresh note,” she commented.
She was also hopeful that the team was ready to look ahead to the tour.
“The young girls have been in the match mood. They have been playing domestic cricket. We have had a week’s camp here, and a couple of us are coming from the Women’s Big Bash League, so pretty much everyone are into the mood of playing matches.
"The girls have worked on the fitness. I would tell the young girls to start fresh,” she continued.
The Mithali Raj-led side will play three ODIs and five T20s against South Africa, starting with the first ODI on February 5. This is the first major series that the Women in Blue will be playing since the conclusion of the ICC Women’s World Cup last year.
