Why Did India Choose to Bowl First Against Bangladesh in Women's WC?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- India chooses to bowl first due to weather conditions.
- Uma Chetry debuts as a historic player from Assam.
- Rain delays impact match timing.
- Both teams aim to refine their strategies.
- Upcoming match against Australia is pivotal.
Navi Mumbai, Oct 26 (NationPress) India captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and chose to bowl first against Bangladesh in Match 28 at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium on Sunday.
The toss experienced a delay of over 30 minutes, but the commencement of the match was postponed further as another rain shower arrived immediately after the toss, compelling the ground staff to cover the pitch once more.
India made three alterations to their squad, providing a debut to wicketkeeper-batter Uma Chetry, who becomes the first cricketer from Assam to represent India. She replaced Richa Ghosh, who sustained a finger injury in the previous match against New Zealand. Additionally, India rested young pacer Kranti Gaud and spinner Sneh Rana, with Amanjot Kaur and Radha Yadav stepping into the playing XI.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed their intention to bowl due to the overcast conditions and the likelihood of more rain. With the semifinal position already secured, Harmanpreet stated, "The mood in the camp is improved. We had faith in ourselves and demonstrated it in the last match. We hope to maintain this momentum."
Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty had no issues with batting first, indicating that it would benefit them as her bowlers have been performing well. "Overcoming past losses was challenging. We need to approach each match individually and bring our best performance. Aiming for 230-plus would be ideal given our bowling lineup and these conditions," she said.
Although the semifinal spots are already determined, this match holds significance for both teams—Bangladesh seeks to defeat a top-four team while India aims to refine their team composition before their crucial knockout match against Australia at the same venue on October 30.
Playing XIs:
India: Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Jemimah Rodrigues, Uma Chetry (wk), Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Shree Charani, Amanjot Kaur, Renuka Singh
Bangladesh: Sumaiya Akter, Rubya Haider, Sharmin Akhter, Sobhana Mostary, Nigar Sultana (capt/wk), Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Rabeya Khan, Nahida Akter, Marufa Akter, Nishita Akter Nishi.