India's 3-0 ODI series sweep against South Africa has provided a timely boost to the team's preparations for the T20 World Cup later this year. The series not only erased the bitter memories of the 0-3 loss to Australia earlier this year but also allowed the team to assess players' form, fitness, and overall fielding standards.
Smriti Mandhana emerged as the star of the series, scoring a remarkable 117, 136, and 90 in her three outings. Her exceptional strokeplay and remarkable endurance, having spent 122.3 overs at the crease out of India's total of 140.4, were highly impressive.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur also returned to form, scoring a brilliant century in the second match, her first since September 2022. However, the form of Shafali Verma, who managed only 52 runs in three innings, raised concerns.
India experimented with D. Hemalatha and Priya Punia at No. 3, a move that is likely to continue in the upcoming T20Is against South Africa. The series also witnessed promising ODI debuts for leg-spinner Asha Sobhana and pacer Arundhati Reddy.
Asha, 33, made an immediate impact, taking a four-wicket haul in her first outing. Arundhati, 27, who has played 26 T20Is since her debut in 2018, also impressed with her bowling, particularly in the second ODI, where she bowled the penultimate over and helped India secure a narrow four-run victory.
One of the most heartening aspects of the series was India's improved ground fielding. Jemimah Rodrigues was particularly impressive, saving more runs than the margin of victory in the second game. Coach Amol Muzumdar expressed his satisfaction with the team's fielding efforts, emphasizing the importance of saving runs.
The 3-0 sweep has provided India with a solid foundation as they prepare for the T20 World Cup. The team will now play three T20Is against South Africa in Chennai before participating in the inter-zonal multi-day tournament. These matches will offer further opportunities to evaluate players and fine-tune their preparations for the global event.
Tags: #Cricket, #WomensCricket, #SmritiMandhana, #HarmanpreetKaur, #T20WorldCup
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