Tuesday is going to be a big day for Team India, under Harmanpreet Kaur, as the Women’s World Cup 2025 kickstarts in Guwahati. And in the first fixture, hosts India and Sri Lanka face off. Clearly, Harman’s side is the better one, but the opposition has been doing fairly well in the last couple of years, and cannot be taken lightly.
What Should be Ideal XI for Team India?
Also a challenge would be to get the playing XI right in the first match itself, given the kind of options the team has. On wickets that would mostly be suitable for batting, the management has picked four spinners and three pacers in the squad. Traditionally India has preferred going spin heavy, but this time around, it might not be a great idea. And so thinks former India captain Anjum Chopra.
In an exclusive interaction with InsideSport, she revealed that three spinner and three pacer combination is what Amol Mazumdar should be looking at. Dew could be a factor, and while chasing, it will only be difficult for spinners to manage. “Four spinners in the playing XI is not the ideal strategy for Team India. However the players and the management will be at the venue, and they will assess the conditions, the opposition, as well as their own team.
Anjum Chopra Feels 3 Pacers, 3 Spinners
“From a distance, I would say, they should only play with three spinners, and the fourth one can chip in. Ideally of Harmanpreet can bowl a few overs, it will be brilliant. The team needs to have a balance in their batting and also their bowling,” Anjum said.
She also explained how it would be difficult to get the ideal balance in the team, since the top 6 doesn’t bowl. Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana don’t, so doesn’t Harleen Deol, and Jemimah, with Richa Ghosh being a keeper. Harmanpreet too doesn’t bowl regularly.
“Again, in an ideal scenario, I will have three spinners and three pacers in that line-up, including an all-rounder. If Harleen, Jemimah or Harman would have been bowling, life would have been much more easier. But since in our top 6 no one bowls, then it becomes to balance out things.”
Full India Squad for Women’s World Cup 2025
Harmanpreet Kaur (Capt), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh (WK), Kranti Gaud, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (WK) and Sneh Rana.
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