Facing a do-or-die battle against New Zealand going into the third ODI, India women are likely to get the much-needed fillip in the form of Smriti Mandhana becoming available for the match in Queenstown on Friday. And 2011 World Cup winner Harbhajan Singh feels it will lend "firepower" to the Indian line-up.
"While checking social media posts, I saw that one of India’s best batters Smriti Mandhana is out of her quarantine and will be available for the third ODI, which is a do-or-die game for Mithali Raj’s girls," Harbhajan wrote in his column for Times of India on Thursday.
Mandhana couldn't join the touring party reportedly due to travel-related issues and had to stay at the Mandatory Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) facility.
"Smriti’s presence will certainly lift the spirits as she is not only going to add firepower to the team’s batting but also as a member of the core leadership group (will) be able to help the juniors," the former India off-spinner wrote.
India lost the first ODI by 62 runs and second by three wickets.
New Zealand chased down a stiff taget of 270 in the second match of the five-ODI series to take a 2-0 lead.
"It is not acceptable that a commendable target of 270 should be chased with an over to spare and that too after losing three of their main batters -- Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine and Ammy Satherwaite," said Harbhajan.
"I hope our main bowler Jhulan is not unfit and Richa Ghosh’s ankle is fine for the third game. But I am more concerned about Jhulan as I understand the need for her workload management also.
"If Richa is not fit, then S Meghana, I believe, will be slotted in her place with Smriti back at opening and Taniya Bhatia comes in. But Bhatia is more of a nudge-and-push player without the power game that Richa possesses," he opined.
Harbhajan added that other seniors in the team should step up to support Mithali Raj.
"She (Mithali) has now scored eight fifties in her last 13 games and in this series she is batting with a strike-rate of 80 plus, which is a marked improvement and as she anchors the innings. Similar contribution from other seniors will be of great help to the team."
Harbhajan also suggested not to over-use spin-bowling options in the death overs.
"In the third game, Jhulan should be tried in the death overs because she has the variations to trouble the batters. She is the only pacer whose deliveries skid and that makes her more lethal.
"I see there are too many instances of spinners bowling at the death overs. In tight situations, slow bowlers give more time to opposition batters to play their shots which isn’t always the greatest strategy," he opined.
Harbhajan ended with a word on India's fielding.
"Another thing I would like to see is improved fielding and way more intensity. There were at least two instances in the last overs when the New Zealand girls converted a normal single into a double. Also, the fielding coach needs to help the girls in understanding how to cut the angles, which is a must on New Zealand grounds."
