The Indian Women's cricket team is finally back in business! The South African women's team will tour India for the limited-overs series; scheduled to be played from 7th- 23rd March 2021.
(Picture courtesy: DNA India)
Coronavirus hiatus has given the sports industry a tough time. Even as we deal with the rumours of the second wave hitting the Indian sub-continent, stadiums are reopening and the rescheduled matches are being played. The India-South Africa women's series was still uncertain as the Kerala Government (the series was originally planned to be held in Thiruvananthapuram)declined to host the matches as the ground allocated needed to be used for an army recruitment drive without the knowledge of the Kerala Cricket Association!
Well, the series got a better venue with live television broadcast (seemed like God had better plans for them!). On 23rd February, the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association confirmed that all eight games would be hosted at the Ekana International Stadium in Lucknow via press release. Moreover, the live matches will be aired on Star Sports 2 and Star Sports 2/HD.
Ekana International Stadium, Lucknow (via Mehler Texnologies)
The 2020 Women's T20 World cup runners-up, team India hasn't played for over 11 months since the Coronavirus pandemic. They will be playing an ODI match after 486 days! The last match they played was the finals against Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) where they lost by 85 runs. Moreover, the tour of England scheduled in July 2020 was cancelled and the tour of Australia for January 2021 was postponed. The only competitive cricket played by women in blue was the Women's T20 Challenge which was held in November 2020 in Sharjah. Unfortunately, the dates of the tournament clashed with the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia due to which the Indian players couldn't take part in the WBBL.
The Indian team at MCG with Katy Perry (via timesofsport.com)
PROTOCOLS
The Indian contingent will have to serve five-day quarantine. They even have to undergo two Covid-19 tests before beginning the training. The South African contingent will enter India via Mumbai and serve six-day quarantine upon arrival in Lucknow. With all the Covid protocols in place, UPCA is in talks with BCCI to allow crowds up to 40-50% capacity. Ekana International Stadium has a maximum capacity of 50,000 and it would be their first time hosting a women's international fixture.
PREVIOUS CLASH
The Indian team had won the previous ODI series against South Africa in Vadodara in October 2019. In the third ODI, South African seamers- Marizanne Kapp, Shabnim Ismail, and Ayanonga Khaka gave a hard time to Indian openers. Harmanpreet Kaur and Shikha Pandey's 49-run partnership helped team India to set a target of 147 runs. During the second innings, The Indian spinners completely whitewashed the South African Women's batters. Ekta Bisht picked up three wickets for 32 runs; Deepti Sharma and Rajeshwari Gayakwad picked up two wickets each, confining the visitors to 140 runs.
SCHEDULE:
ODIs
1st ODI – March 7
2ND ODI– March 9
3RD ODI– March 12
4TH ODI– March 14
5TH ODI– March 17
T20Is
1ST T20I– March 20
2ND T20I– March 21
3RD T20I– March 24
SQUAD:
Experienced players like Taniya Bhatia, Shikha Pandey, Veda Krishnamurthy, and Ekta Bisht have been dropped from the team roster. The young players who got a chance to play in the three-team Women's T20 Challenge in Sharjah have received their first national call-up.
ODI squad: Mithali Raj (Captain), Harmanpreet Kaur (vice-captain), Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Punam Raut, Priya Punia, Yastika Bhatia, D. Hemalatha, Deepti Sharma, Sushma Verma (wicket-keeper), Swetha Verma (wicket-keeper), Jhulan Goswami, Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Mansi Joshi, Poonam Yadav, C. Prathyusha, Monica Patel
T20I squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Harleen Deol, Sushma Verma (wicket-keeper), Nuzhat Parveen (wicket-keeper), Ayushi Soni, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav, Mansi Joshi, Monica Patel, C. Prathyusha, Simran Dil Bahadur
However, South Africa and India have earned direct qualification for the 2022 Women's ODI World Cup that is rescheduled to take place in New Zealand. This bilateral series will serve as a preparatory tournament for the World Cup.
The South African players after their ODI win against Pakistan (via instagram/@laurawolvaardt)
South African players are fresh off a win in their home series against Pakistan. They have been in form and have even experienced playing international cricket under Covid protocols. Women in blue will have to ensure that they don't take much time to dust off their inaction rust!
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