New Delhi, Sep 28 (NationPress) The newly appointed chief selector for the India women’s cricket team, Amita Sharma, expressed that her opportunity to serve the national team once more is a significant point of pride for her. On Sunday, Amita, a seam-bowling all-rounder with a record of 116 ODIs, five Tests, and 41 T20Is, was named chairperson of the women’s national selection committee during the BCCI’s 95th Annual General Meeting in Mumbai.

She is set to take over from Neetu David, with her term commencing after the conclusion of the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup. Amita will collaborate with Sulakshana Naik, Jaya Sharma, and Sravanthi Naidu, forming a five-member committee alongside Shyama Dey Shaw.

“At the moment, I’m receiving numerous phone calls, which can be quite tiring. However, the most important aspect is that this opportunity to serve the Indian team again is a very proud moment for me. I feel wonderful to be associated with the Indian team in some capacity,” Amita shared in an exclusive interview with IANS.

Amita joins the national panel after successfully chairing the senior women’s selection committee in Delhi, where the team consistently reached knockout stages and even secured the U23 Women’s T20 Trophy last season. Under her leadership, players like Priya Mishra and Pratika Rawal (prior to her transition to Railways) made their way to the Indian squad.

“I believe more emphasis should be placed on talent rather than solely on statistics. If a young player shows potential and is likely to be beneficial for the team in the future, they should be given additional opportunities. I strive to approach selection differently from others,” she explained regarding her selection philosophy.

Amita is confident that her experience as chairperson in Delhi will greatly assist her in the national role. “This experience will be extremely beneficial as the selection process will be similar, albeit on a larger scale, and I may need to adjust my selection approach. However, my experience in Delhi will certainly aid me here.”

She concluded with optimism for the Indian team's upcoming World Cup performance, starting their campaign against Sri Lanka in Guwahati on Tuesday. “My message to the Indian team is to continue playing cricket the way they are currently. I will pray for their success, and with all the positive energy surrounding them, I am confident they will excel in the competition.”