Mithali Raj, the star Indian batter, said the side had to regroup and address a few issues before the all-important ICC Women’s World T20 2018 in the Caribbean in November.
India are set to travel to Sri Lanka for a limited-overs series in September, but have to put behind a string of poor recent results.
“It is important to regroup and get back the confidence again as the T20 World Cup is scheduled in November,” Raj told The Hindu. “In this context, the Sri Lanka series is very important.
“With the new coach himself being a spinner, I am sure his experience will help our tweakers as we depend heavily on them in all formats.
I don’t know really what keeps me going. But it is obvious that the team needs to be settled
“The Sri Lanka series will also be important in terms of knowing where we stand, what is the composition we should have, and accordingly, use these matches to prepare for the World Cup.”
After veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami announced her retirement from T20Is last week, there are question marks over Raj’s future too, but she doesn’t want to give up yet.
“I would like to continue as long as I am fit and able to contribute to the team,” she said. “I don’t know really what keeps me going. But, it is obvious that the team needs to be settled.
“That way, I feel we should not struggle in ODIs. It takes time to find the right combination which can last longer. Probably, till that time I will hold on.”
India’s tour of Sri Lanka will commence with the first of three ICC Women’s Championship ODIs on 11 September. The sides will also clash in five T20Is after that.
