Looking to find right combinations, Mithali Raj seeks useful contribution from lower-order

India Women’s skipper Mithali Raj will be leading her troop into probably what will be her last World cup as the team lands in New Zealand later this month. For Mithali, it is about finding the right combinations in the five-match series against the hosts prior to the World Cup. 

"We will definitely be looking to fix our combinations for the World Cup and try out a few compositions and also get a little more consistent in the things that worked for us in the last year," said the 39-year-old in an interview to news wire agency PTI. 

Mithali, who was made India brand ambassador of Jacob's Creek, feels that the lower middle order, which contributed well in the team’s tours to England and Australia in 2021, will be able to come in handy in the World Cup.

"The lower middle order contributed in Australia and we would want it to be a little more consistent. And it definitely showed that they have the potential to contribute and all-rounders like Pooja [Vastrakar] and Sneh Rana have done well in England and in Australia,” she said. 

Talking about the dynamic teenager Richa Ghosh who has been transformed into the permanent wicket-keeper in the limited-overs format, the Indian captain said, "Richa definitely showed that she has the strength and the calibre to sort of going big in the in those last few overs that we actually wanted someone like that.”

"She gives us an edge in batting while Taniya (Bhatia) has better glove work - it's good to have good competition for spots and we have a 5 match to series to try out the combinations,” Mithali added. 

India’s New Zealand tour begins on February 09th with the first ODI at McLean Park in Napier. While the team’s first World Cup game is against arch-rivals Pakistan on March 06 at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.