Colombo, Oct 2 (NationPress) Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur has praised openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal for alleviating the pressure on the middle order with their impressive partnerships at the top of the batting order.

Smriti has been in exceptional form, establishing a vital opening partnership with Pratika, which is essential for the Indian batting lineup. Although they had a challenging outing in the 59-run victory against Sri Lanka in the tournament's opening match, their resilience is anticipated in upcoming games.

“Since Pratika joined the squad, we have enjoyed significant partnerships. This dynamic positively impacts the batting order that follows, allowing us to strategize the innings. The duo has significantly eased our pressure, simplifying our roles,” Harmanpreet stated in an interview with JioStar.

Smriti, serving as India's vice-captain, also commended Pratika for quickly adapting to the demands of international cricket. “Pratika and I share a lot of similarities. We tend to stick to our routines and maintain a low profile on the field. Our calm playing style contributes to our performance,” she remarked.

“Pratika is not a product of the Women's Premier League (WPL) but has emerged through the domestic circuit. For her to achieve this level in international cricket in just the past eight months is truly impressive,” she added.

In their opening match at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati, India found themselves struggling at 124/6. However, a robust partnership worth 103 runs between Deepti Sharma and Amanjot Kaur enabled them to post a total of 269 in 47 overs, following a rain interruption.

In response, India bowled out Sri Lanka for 211, kicking off their campaign with a victory. Under Harmanpreet Kaur's leadership, India is set to take on their long-time rivals, Pakistan, at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on Sunday.