NZ W vs IND W | Bowling attack is a concern going into the World Cup: Mithali Raj

India Women are 0-4 down in the ongoing five-match ODI series against New Zealand but the captain Mithali Raj is yet to lose hope. She believes in her team and has pointed out bowling to be a concern going into the upcoming World Cup.

The fourth WODI between India and New Zealand saw the visitors failing to chase down 192 and losing it by 63 runs even after a stunning half-century by Richa Ghosh.

Mithali, in the post-match ceremony, said, “Definitely have been trying a few combinations with the seam and spin attack. Bowling attack is a concern going into the World Cup.”

She added, “We are adapting to the conditions and to the open ground and the breeze. We have not been very consistent in our bowling spells. I was just looking at Richa’s shots and she is a talented and exciting player for the future for India.”

This series is important for both sides considering the World Cup is scheduled to begin on March 4, 2022. India will take on Pakistan in their inaugural World Cup match on March 6 at Bay Oval. India may have lost the series already but the Indian captain is not giving up yet.

The 39-year old mentioned in her column for ICC, "We have now been the beaten finalists in the most recent 50-over and 20-over World Cup finals and have learnt so much from those experiences that we will take into this World Cup in New Zealand. We have shown that we are more than capable of winning the trophy, it is now just a case of doing it and the impact of doing so would be incredible. I can only imagine what its effect would be."

"Shafali Verma is surely one of the players being watched with great enthusiasm back home. She is one of the world's rising stars and I am backing her to have more impressive performances for India throughout the tournament with guidance and support from the stylish Smriti Mandhana at the other end. Taniya Bhatia has been very reliable behind the stumps and Richa Ghosh is hot on her heels, meaning we have two wicketkeepers we can trust," the right-handed further added. 

The veteran batter who has been representing India in World Cup since 2000, wrote, "To be recognised on the streets in my country is something I never expected when I appeared in my first World Cup in 2000, also in New Zealand, but that is now so common and shows how much the game has grown in India."