The three-match series starting on Monday will give both teams a chance to directly qualify for the 2021 ICC Women’s World Cup. Kimberley will be the venue of the ODIs on February 5 and 7, while the series will finish in Potchefstroom on February 10. Mithali Raj and her team did not get to play any international games — thanks to lackadaisical planning on the part of the BCCI and the biggest challenge will be to get back into the groove. 

With women’s cricket being closely followed post World Cup, Mithali knows that their responsibility has increased manifold. “Every match will be scrutinised by people because now people have seen the actual standard of women’s cricket and the Indian team,” Mithali said. “So, yes, from now on whatever matches that we get to play, will be closely watched by all of them (and) followed by all the cricket fanatic people in our country as well as around the world,” she added.

The skipper herself has been busy with a series of promotional events and only played a few matches in the National One-Day Championship for women. “I am eager to get back to playing international cricket. It has been a while since the World Cup and the South Africa tour will be the first one since. It is good to play against good sides in challenging conditions because it gets the best out of a side which is trying to improve,” she said. 

The centre of attention will be 17-year-old Mumbai schoolgirl Jemimah Rodriguez, who has been a prolific scorer in domestic competitions.