Another Indian T20 international, another team-sheet without Mithali Raj and also, another defeat.
The Indian women’s cricket team lost to New Zealand by 23 runs in the first T20I of the three-match series on Wednesday. Chasing 160, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side were dismissed for 136 in 19.1 overs with 9 wickets falling in 9 overs.
The captain however had put down Mithali’s exclusion from the team to the need to give the youngsters some game time.
"We are looking to give chance to young girls, that is the only reason," said Harmanpreet when asked about Mithali's absence from the line-up and whether her experience would have come handy in the match..
This is India’s second straight T20 outing that Mithali has been excluded from after being dropped in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup last November. The one-day skipper had in fact won the Player of the Match award in the two games where she got a chance to bat but Harmanpreet Kaur and the team management chose to leave her out of the knock out game against England.
India lost the match by 8 wickets and once the team returned home, controversy followed with coach Ramesh Powar’s contract not being renewed by the board.
Since then, Mithali has spoken out about the team moving past the controversy and led the side to a 2-1 ODI series win against New Zealand where she scored 9 and an unbeaten 63.