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Key Points

Harmanpreet Kaur has highlighted how the opening partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal has significantly reduced pressure on the middle order. Smriti herself praised Pratika's calm demeanor and rapid adaptation to international cricket despite not coming through the WPL pathway. India's campaign started with a hard-fought victory over Sri Lanka where they recovered from 124/6 to post a competitive total. The team now prepares for their much-anticipated clash against Pakistan in Colombo this Sunday.

Key Points: Harmanpreet Credits Smriti Pratika Partnership for Easing Pressure

  • Harmanpreet Kaur credits openers for easing middle-order pressure through big partnerships
  • Smriti Mandhana praises Pratika Rawal's calm approach and quick adaptation to international cricket
  • India overcame early collapse against Sri Lanka with Deepti-Amanjot 103-run stand
  • Team looks ahead to crucial Women's WC clash against arch-rivals Pakistan in Colombo
2 min read

Women's WC: Smriti and Pratika have taken a lot of pressure off us, says Harmanpreet

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur praises openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal for their formidable partnerships that have eased pressure on the middle order in Women's WC.

"The duo has taken a lot of pressure off us and made our job easier - Harmanpreet Kaur"

Colombo, Oct 2

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has credited openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal for taking a lot of pressure off the middle order through their formidable partnerships at the top.

Smriti has been in fine form for India at the top of the order and has formed a great opening partnership with Pratika to be a crucial cog in the Indian batting line-up. Though the duo didn’t have a memorable outing in the 59-run win over Sri Lanka in the opening game, they are expected to bounce back in the future matches.

“Since the time Pratika joined the team, we have had big partnerships. I think it helps the batting order that follows, and we can calculate the innings ahead. The duo has taken a lot of pressure off us and made our job easier,” said Harmanpreet to JioStar.

Smriti, India’s vice-captain, also lauded Pratika for stepping up to the rigours of international cricket in quick time. “Pratika and I are very similar. We like to do our routines and don’t talk much on the field. There’s a lot of calmness in the way we play.”

“Pratika is not a product of the Women's Premier League (WPL) but has come up through the domestic setup. For her to have matched the level of international cricket in just the last 8 months is commendable,” she said.

In their opening game at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati, India were reduced to 124/6, before a resilient 103-run stand between Deepti Sharma and Amanjot Kaur helped them post 269 in their 47 overs, after the clash was cut by three overs due to rain.

In reply, India bowled out Sri Lanka for 211 and get their campaign off to a winning start. India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, are scheduled to face arch-rivals Pakistan at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on Sunday.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Great to see domestic talent like Pratika getting recognition. WPL is important but our domestic structure is the real backbone of Indian cricket. Hope she continues her good form against Pakistan on Sunday! 💪
A
Ananya R
The calmness Smriti mentioned is exactly what we need in pressure situations. Remember how they collapsed to 124/6? Good openers prevent such situations. Hope they learn from the Sri Lanka game and come back stronger.
M
Michael C
Watching from Australia - Indian women's cricket has improved so much! The depth in batting is impressive. Deepti and Amanjot's partnership shows the team isn't dependent on just 2-3 players. Quality team effort!
K
Karthik V
While I appreciate the openers' contribution, we need to be honest - the middle order collapse against Sri Lanka is concerning. Against stronger teams like Australia or England, we can't afford such collapses. Need to work on that aspect.
S
Shreya B
Harmanpreet's leadership is fantastic! She always acknowledges her teammates' contributions. This team spirit is what makes champions. All the best for Pakistan match - bring home the cup girls! 🏆

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