*BANGLADESH WOMEN VS INDIA WOMEN 1st ODI IN A 3 MATCH ODI SERIES 2023 PREVIEW*
*THE BUILD UP:*
*INDIA BUILD ON AS THEY DIG DEEPER INTO SEEKING ANSWERS:*
India would have hoped for a clean sweep, a dominant whitewash following up their victories in the first two games where they had sealed the key moments but it was not to be. Bangladesh struck back firmly, helping themselves to a consolation victory but reminding India in their away tour that the home side is here to compete as well and with an ODI series coming, we may see a better horned version of the Bangladeshi women who answered nicely with their singles and doubles game and were clinical with the bowl in hand, too.
India have a task cut out, ahead of them. Though they have been a side to reckon with with the bowl, they have certainly faltered with the bat in hand. Barring their chase in the first game, they have recorded scores of 95 and 102, while batting first and though people may blame the slowness of the pitch for this, it boils down to how mediocre India have been with their batting, allowing the opposition to climb onto their nerves and challenging them. The returns from Shafali Varma out of all others are the most concerning and a call could be taken on her soon enough if she fails to fire everytime.
Speaking about their head-to-head records in the ODIs, the two sides have contested in five One-Day matches and the Women in Blue have asserted their dominance on each of the occasions. Nigar Sultana-led Bangladesh will be eager to end their losing streak and hope to clinch the ODI series.
*IND PROBABLE XI:*
Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Devika Vaidya, Pooja Vastrakar, Sneh Rana, Meghna Singh, Anjali Sarvani, Monica Patel
A cumulative total of 52 runs were scored by Mandhana in her three outings vs Bangladesh which concluded recently but her hunger for runs specially in the ODI format should keep her in good stead and we can bank on her to be amongst the highest run getters this series. She has an average of 43 after playing out 77 ODI innings and to maintain this sort of a stat is outrageous and for Mandhana to do it, speaks of her commitment and determination whenever she steps out to bat. She will have a big role to play even tomorrow with the conditions likely to be tough and challenging for the batters. We could see her drop anchor and play around others who’d stick to their attacking gameplay.
Her partner Shafali needs some runs under her belt. The attacking opener has not been in her groove ever since the start of this tour but India would need a firing Varma if they hope to not get knocked over early in the innings. Being calculative and mature are two traits India would be demanding from her as the series begins from tomorrow.
Devika Vaidya and Deepti Sharma are going to patch along real nice I feel with their actions and their style of bowling different from one another yet very effective. The last T20I they played, they collectively leaked runs at under 4 an over and were duly suited by the conditions at hand. With the pitch expected to play a similar way, this pair in tandem could be a handful against the Bangladeshis.
*BAN PROBABLE XI:*
Shamima Sultana, Nigar Sultana Joty(c)(wk), Fargana Hoque, Nahida Akter, Disha Biswas, Sobhana Mostary, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Marufa Akter, Shanjida Akther Maghla, Sultana Khatun
Sultana Khatun has been a phenomenal bet for her side in the last two encounters, getting rid of 5 Indian batters and proving her worth as an all format pace bowler. She was accurate with the lines she bowled, targetted the stumps and kept the Indians at her toes. The host nation’s fans would be banking upon her to get the job done and adapt quick in order to prove her effectiveness in the upcoming ODIs too.
Bangladesh won their last encounter and what impressed me about their batting was their ability to take singles and doubles at will in an otherwise tough pitch where boundary striking was a tough job. When you’re able to rotate the strike, you put additional pressure not just on the bowler but also the fielders and that is what gave them a win in the last game. This ability of theirs will be tested in the ODIs too as the surfaces will give both sides a feeling of “deja vu”
You need your skipper to fire specially in a longer format and with Sultana, who showed some form specially in game 2, we can expect a real top drawer tussle between the two opposing skippers.
*MY PREDICTIONS:*
*FOR IND:*
Highest run getter- Smriti Mandhana/HarmanPreet Kaur
Highest wicket taker- Deepti Sharma/Devika Vaidya
*FOR BAN:*
Highest run getter- Nigar Sultana/Shamima Sultana
Highest wicket taker- Sultana Khatun
*FOR THE GAME:*
India to win and start off on a positive note