India has a big opportunity to fine-tune their strategies ahead of the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh by competing in the upcoming Women’s Asia Cup in Dambulla, Sri Lanka. As the defending champions, India not only aims to retain their title but also needs to address the number three batting position and determine the optimal batting role for Jemimah Rodrigues. Jemimah, who used to bat at number three in T20Is, had to sit out the T20I tour of Bangladesh in April-May due to a back injury.
Currently, all-rounder Dayalan Hemalatha has taken over the number three slot, showcasing her strong bottom-hand technique and impressive big-hitting abilities against spin bowlers. The question now arises: who will secure the number three batting position in the Asia Cup – Jemimah or Hemalatha? Anjum Chopra, former India captain, believes it would be fair to reinstate Jemimah at number three.
Anjum elaborates on the versatility of Jemimah, pointing out her ability to also open the batting if needed. However, she acknowledges the challenges Jemimah faces in adapting to various batting positions. Despite being a consistent number three batter for India in T20Is, Jemimah showcased her adaptability by scoring a quick 53 off 30 balls while batting at number five in the series opener against South Africa.
Anjum expresses her personal preference for captain Harmanpreet to bat at number three but acknowledges Harman’s comfort at the number four position. The partnership between Harman and Jemimah provides flexibility and firepower to the Indian middle-order, enhancing the team’s batting options.
After a recent T20I victory against South Africa, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana defended the decision to play Hemalatha at number three, indicating a strategic move to retain the batting order with Harmanpreet and Jemimah at four and five respectively. Anjum, however, believes Hemalatha may not be the ideal choice for the number three position and emphasizes the importance of fielding the best batter early in the innings.
Anjum highlights the need for strategic batting decisions to ensure that the Indian team can post or chase down scores in excess of 160 or 170 in T20 matches. The key lies in identifying the best utility of each player in different scenarios to maximize the team’s performance in high-scoring games.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
