Mithali Raj Calls for Role Clarity in India's Bowling Department Ahead of T20 World Cup Former women’s cricket captain Mithali Raj has highlighted the need for clarity in India’s bowling department as the team prepares for critical matches in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Speaking on JioStar Media Day, Raj emphasized that the lack of defined roles among bowlers is a significant concern, particularly as the team faces tough opponents like South Africa and Australia in the tournament. India’s campaign in the World Cup has started with mixed results, with the team securing victories against Pakistan and the Netherlands in their opening Pool A games. However, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side faces a challenging schedule, including matches against South Africa on June 20 and Australia on June 28. Between these fixtures, India will also play Bangladesh on June 25. Despite the early successes, Raj pointed out that the team’s bowling attack is currently its weakest link, citing the absence of right-arm off-spinner Shreyanka Patil due to an ankle injury and a weakened seam attack. “Role clarity is missing in our bowling department,” Raj said. “The first six overs of our bowling should be where we get breakthroughs. In the last few series, we haven’t seen that. India is missing Kashvi Gautam and Amanjot Kaur, but with the resources we have, we need to make inroads in the initial overs. Early breakthroughs put pressure on the batting team.” She stressed the importance of having clear strike bowlers and a structured approach to tighten run flow, which she believes is currently lacking. Raj also addressed the team’s batting strength, noting that Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh have been instrumental in maintaining consistency.#smriti_mandhana #harmanpreet_kaur #richa_ghosh #mithali_raj #shreyanka_patil
India's Cricket Captain Mithali Raj Expresses Confidence in Team's Knockout Stage Prospects Mithali Raj, the former India women's cricket captain, has expressed optimism about her team's chances of advancing to the knockout stage of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, despite the setback of Shreyanka Patil’s injury. Speaking during the JioStar Media Day, Raj emphasized that the team’s depth and adaptability would help them navigate the challenges posed by Patil’s absence. The all-rounder’s injury has forced India to consider alternative strategies, with Radha Yadav emerging as a potential replacement in the spin department. Raj highlighted Yadav’s ability to contribute both with the ball and the bat, ensuring the team’s balance remains intact. When asked about the semi-final race, Raj identified Australia and India as the top contenders from Group A, while England and the West Indies were her picks from the other group. She noted that India’s strong start to the tournament, with victories in their opening two matches, had bolstered their position ahead of key fixtures against South Africa and Australia. Raj acknowledged the importance of these upcoming matches in shaping the team’s trajectory, stressing that consistency and execution would be critical in securing a spot in the knockout rounds. The former skipper also addressed concerns about India’s middle-order batting, pointing out the need for stronger partnerships from players in the No. 3 to No. 5 positions. Raj argued that this would alleviate the pressure on wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, whom she described as the team’s “trump card.” Ghosh’s ability to accelerate in the death overs and add crucial runs has been a key asset for India, and Raj emphasized that her role as a finisher would be vital in high-stakes encounters.#richa_ghosh #icc_women_s_t20_world_cup_2026 #radha_yadav #mithali_raj #jio_star_media_day
India Women's Cricket Team Struggles in T20 World Cup Preparations Against England The India women's cricket team faced a challenging encounter against England in a T20 World Cup preparation match on Wednesday. The rain-affected game saw the team struggle throughout, but Richa Ghosh's determined batting kept hopes alive until the final over. Despite her efforts, the team fell short of victory, highlighting the difficulties in their preparations for the global tournament. The match, part of India's three-match T20 series against England, marked another setback for the team. In the first game of the series, India had defeated West Indies by 26 runs, but the second match against England proved tougher. England's strong performance, led by opener Amy Jones (64) and middle-order batswoman Nat Sciver-Brunt (57), set a formidable total. However, the real threat came from Daniel Gibson, who smashed 30 runs off just 12 balls, propelling the team to 171. India's bowling attack failed to contain the damage, with Shreyasi Patel taking two wickets but the rest of the pace and spin bowlers struggling to curb the run flow. The lack of wickets for the fast bowlers has raised concerns ahead of the World Cup, as the team looks to refine their attack. In the batting lineup, the opening pair of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma managed only 8 runs before collapsing, while the rest of the batters failed to contribute significantly. Richa Ghosh, however, stood out with a gritty 68 off 36 balls, keeping the team in the game. Her innings, though cut short by a dismissal in the final over, prevented a complete collapse. The series against England has been a mixed bag for India, with a win in the first match but a loss in the second.#england_cricket_team #richa_ghosh #india_women_cricket_team #nat_sciver_brunt #amy_jones
England Women Win 5 Runs vs India | T20 World Cup Warm-up; Richa Ghosh Fifty Goes In Vain England Women secured a narrow 5-run victory over India in a T20 World Cup warm-up match held in Cardiff. The hosts posted 171 runs in 20 overs, with captain Heather Knight and Amy Jones playing pivotal roles. India, despite a half-century from Richa Ghosh, could only manage 166 runs in 19.5 overs, falling short by five runs. Knight and Jones formed a formidable partnership, scoring 70 runs together in the middle order. Knight, who hit 57 runs, and Jones, who contributed 64, steadied the innings after a shaky start. England's batting lineup showed resilience, with Knight's aggressive strokeplay and Jones' composed approach keeping the scoreboard ticking. The innings was further bolstered by Danielle Wyatt, who scored 30 runs off 12 balls in the final overs, pushing the total to 171. India's batting lineup struggled to find momentum, with key players falling early. Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhattacharya, and captain Harmanpreet Kaur all departed for single-digit scores. Richa Ghosh, batting at number six, provided a brief reprieve, scoring 68 runs off 36 balls. Her innings included a boundary and a six in the final over, but India's chase faltered as they needed 38 runs from the last two overs. Ghosh's 68 runs came at a crucial juncture, but the team's inability to capitalize on her efforts proved costly. In the final over, India needed 17 runs, but a catch off the first ball of the over and a wicket on the next delivery sent them tumbling to 166. Ghosh, along with other batters, failed to reach double figures, highlighting the team's struggles in the final stages of the innings.#richa_ghosh #india_women #england_women #amy_jones #heather_knight
Smriti Mandhana leads Indian presence as Richa, Deepti land deals in women's draft for The Hundred India’s Smriti Mandhana dominated the women’s player draft for The Hundred, securing a direct signing with Manchester Super Giants alongside Australia’s Meg Lanning and England’s Sophie Ecclestone. Compatriot Richa Ghosh also made headlines after being acquired by Manchester Super Giants for £50,000 (approximately ₹61 lakh), while all-rounder Deepti Sharma joined SunRisers Leeds at a reported £27,500 (around ₹34 lakh). The auction, held on March 11, 2026, saw 178 players compete for contracts, with 28 already retained or signed by franchises prior to the event. The Hundred, set to begin on July 21 and conclude on August 16, allocated a total purse of £880,000 per women’s franchise. After direct signings and retentions, Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Southern Brave, and Trent Rockets retained £520,000 each for the draft. Manchester Super Giants, MI London, SunRisers Leeds, and Welsh Fire had slightly larger budgets, with £570,000 remaining before bidding commenced. Richa Ghosh’s £50,000 deal marked a significant milestone for her career, as the Indian wicketkeeper-batter became the first player from her country to secure a contract in the league. Manchester Super Giants’ strategic move to sign both Mandhana and Ghosh strengthened their squad, while SunRisers Leeds’ acquisition of Deepti Sharma highlighted the team’s focus on experienced all-rounders. Notably, India’s Yastika Bhatia and Sree Charani were left out of the draft, failing to attract bids. The auction underscored the competitive nature of the league, with franchises vying for talent amid limited financial resources.#smriti_mandhana #sunrisers_leeds #richa_ghosh #deepti_sharma #manchester_super_giants
