India women’s team Test vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur has reached out to her counterpart in the men’s cricket team, Ajinkya Rahane, for help on batting against swinging ball in England.
“We got a chance to have a word with the men’s players. I spoke to Ajinkya about my batting. Rahane shared his experience of how to play the moving ball in England. What kind of approach should one apply in red-ball cricket. He told He told us to concentrate on playing as close to the body as possible,” Harmanpreet told reporters in the virtual press conference from Bristol on Monday.
Rahane, a Test specialist with 73 games, had shared his experience of playing in England.
“That was a friendly talk with Rahane. He has played a lot of Test cricket, and that was a good experience,” said Harmanpreet Kaur.
India Women will be playing a Test match after a gap of seven years when they take on hosts England in a one-off game in Bristol from June 16.
“We have tried our best to create match scenarios during team training. We didn’t get any practice matches, but we always look to adapt to conditions as quickly as possible,” said Harmanpreet.
Harmanpreet Kaur heaped praise on the teen sensation Shafali Verma and called her a ‘great talent.’ However, the vice-captain didn’t disclose whether Shafali would be making her Test debut, but she said that the youngster is looking in good touch,
Harmanpreet Kaur,32, has played 104 ODIs and 114 T20I, but the swashbuckling batswoman has played only two Test matches in her career.
“I don’t have much experience of playing red-ball cricket. I will try to spend time at the crease and will play according to the ball.
“I know we didn’t get any red-ball games in the domestic, but in the future we will get them more. That is a good sign for us,” said Harmanpreet.
“Shafali is a great talent. She was looking great in the nets. She loves to dominate, and I hope she will make it count if she gets the chance.
“Shafali is a natural player. We don’t talk much about the technique to her. We let her express herself. She shouldn’t take much pressure. We have never pressurised Shafali. She’s just 17, and we want to create the best environment for her,” said Harmanpreet Kaur.
Harmanpreet and four other Indian women cricketers, Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Deepti Sharma will be playing in The Hundred. Harmanpreet Kaur will play for Manchester Originals, and her team will play the first-ever match against Oval Invincibles on July 21 at the Kia Oval.
“We are taking things day by day. Thinking too much into the future can drain you. For now, our only focus is on Test match against England,” said Harmanpreet Kaur.