{ "id": "35494", "author": "13", "cnmid": "0", "title": "We can be a surprise element in World T20, says Mithali Raj", "lang": "en", "series": "1", "cup_year": "2018", "article_type": "General", "excerpt": "Cape Town, Feb 25 (CRICKETNMORE):  Fresh after registering a historic double series win on the South African tour, India One-Day International (ODI) captain Mithali Raj said the team can be a surprise element in the World T20 in November. The", "subtype": "", "editor1": "

Cape Town, Feb 25 (CRICKETNMORE):  <\/strong>Fresh after registering a historic double series win on the South African tour, India One-Day International (ODI) captain Mithali Raj said the team can be a surprise element in the World T20 in November.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The Indian women's team scripted history on Saturday when they beat South Africa women by 54 runs in the fifth and final T20 international.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side displayed an all-round performance as they outclassed the Dane van Niekerk-led team, bowling them out for 112 to lift the T20 series trophy by a margin of 3-1 in the five-match series. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

"The team still requires a lot of hard work in a lot of areas when it comes to the T20 format. We have been very good in the one-day format, but the way the girls have responded to this format in South Africa, I think there is a lot of scope that we can be a surprise element in the World T20," Raj, 35, told ESPN Cricinfo.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"Now people back home are keen to watch on television, they want to know what the Indian women's team is doing in South Africa. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

"It is just unfortunate the one-dayers weren't televised but I am happy the T20s were televised and we have given a very good result. So, getting back home, we have the tri-series against Australia and England, which is again going to be televised so I am hoping all of you will get glued to the TV and start cheering for India," the veteran batswoman added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Around Raj, there is a younger crop of promising young cricketers to ease the burden from her shoulders. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Th likes of Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Veda Krishnamurthy provide middle-order muscle, and in 17-year old Jemimah Rodrigues, who shared a 98-run stand with Raj in the series clincher, a star is being nurtured.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"Yes, that has helped my batting, knowing that the team is not completely dependent on me," she said. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

"I can at times take that initiative to try out a few strokes in the middle, without getting bothered if I get out. I am very happy that we have more than one or two match-winners in the squad. That makes it a very strong squad."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Not a fan of the T20 format, Raj said she is confident of becoming a good player in the shortest format of the game by tuning herself to that mode.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"Honestly, I am not someone who is very fond of the T20 format.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"But since I am preparing for the T20 World Cup, it was important for me to start scoring runs in this format to gain that momentum. I am very happy that this series has given me that confidence that I can be a T20 player.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"It is a conscious effort to turn my game so that I can get used to the T20 format because as an opener it is important that I have all-round shots and also see that aerial route, because the first six overs are crucial so you can give a start to the team."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

India's next international assignment is against Australia, with the first of three ICC Women's Championship matches beginning on March 12.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

It is a busy calendar for India as they will also host Australia and England in a T20I tri-series in March, followed by three ODIs against England at home.<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2018\/02\/mithali-raj4.jpg", "alt_img": "We can be a surprise element in World T20, says Mithali Raj", "alt_title": "We can be a surprise element in World T20, says Mithali Raj", "image1": "", "video": "", "seo_title": "We can be a surprise element in World T20, says Mithali Raj", "seo_desc": ".", "seo_keywords": "Indian Women Cricket Team, Mithali Raj", "tag": "", "tagging": "Indian Women Cricket Team,Mithali Raj,", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": "0", "slug": "we-can-be-a-surprise-element-in-world-t20-says-mithali-raj", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": "0000-00-00", "ians_time": "00:00:00", "server_time": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "trash": "0", "view_count": "2272", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "0", "created": "2018-02-25 15:02:41", "updated": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "img_from": "", "img_source": "", "schedule_publish": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "news_keywords": null, "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "1", "jio_date": "2018-02-25 15:02:41", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": "2018-02-25 15:02:41", "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": null, "article_content_type": null, "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/we-can-be-a-surprise-element-in-world-t20-says-mithali-raj-35494" }