New Delhi, June 19: Former captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, Mithali Raj, stated on Friday that the exclusion of spin-bowling all-rounder Shreyanka Patil from the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup is a significant blow for the team led by Harmanpreet Kaur. She suggested that Radha Yadav could be given a chance in the upcoming match against South Africa to fill Shreyanka’s role.
Mithali Raj shared her thoughts during the GeoStar Media Day, saying, “This is definitely a setback. I am sure the support staff had plans for her in this World Cup. Personally, she was very eager for the tournament.”
She added, “It is tough for any player to get injured and miss out on a global stage like the World Cup. I am sure this will be difficult for her.”
According to the former captain, Radha, a left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder, is well-positioned to step in as the third spinner and partner with left-arm spinner N. Shreecharani and off-spin all-rounder Deepti Sharma.
Mithali noted, “As far as the Indian team is concerned, I am sure they might have to revert to Plan B or Plan C now. India has always relied on spinners, and Radha Yadav performed well in the ODI World Cup. She is part of this team. Therefore, I believe the immediate change will be that if they need a third spinner, she will take on Shreyanka’s role.”
Mithali also expressed concern about India’s middle-order batting, stating that the team is losing wickets quickly, which increases pressure on the incoming batsmen. She referenced the early dismissals of Shefali and Jemimah against Pakistan, as well as Jemimah and Yastika against the Netherlands.
She remarked, “We expect a lot from our number three, four, or five batsmen. This is where we feel that when Richa comes in, she has to do a lot. She needs to set the momentum and carry it forward. She has mostly done that, and we would like her to do so in crucial matches. We hope that besides the openers, our top 3-4 batsmen also build partnerships.”
Mithali added, “If they can manage even a 30-run partnership, I believe bringing Richa Ghosh in during the 14th or 15th over would greatly help her, as it would provide a better platform for her to play the role she is expected to.”
When asked if senior pacer Renuka Thakur could be included in the remaining league-stage matches, Mithali indicated that her exclusion from the initial match against Pakistan suggests doubts about her current form from the team management.
She stated, “There is nothing wrong with going in with three pacers. We have always opted for more spinners, and it depends on the pitch they are playing on. Yes, if you are an experienced bowler and still not in rhythm or performing as per the plan, there is no point in playing a player just because they have played many matches.”
Shreyanka has been ruled out of the T20 World Cup due to injury, and leg-spinner Prema Rawat has been included in the team as her replacement.
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