England vs India Women: Mithali Raj recovers from neck pain, is set to play 3rd ODI in Worcester
The captain of the India women’s ODI team has overcome a minor injury and will be available for selection for the 3rd ODI between India and England women in Worcester on Saturday. Mitali Raj missed the 2nd innings of the 2nd ODI on Wednesday due to neck pain she experienced while batting in Taunton.
Mithali Raj was seen getting physio’s attention during the 2nd innings at the dressing room. Raj hit her 2nd successive fifty of the ODI series but India women were outclassed by 5 wickets.
Mithali Raj joined the rest of her India teammates at the training session on the eve of the series finale in Worcester.
“Captain @M_Raj03 has recovered and is training with the girls as we prepare for the 3rd WODI tomorrow here at New Road, Worcester. Raising hands #TeamIndia #ENGvIND,” the BCCI said in a tweet.
Mithali Raj has been waging a lone battle in India’s middle-order in the ongoing ODI series. The senior batter hit her 57th ODI fifty in Taunton — a 92-ball 59 after a strong start from openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana. However, India collapsed to 221 for 9 in their quota of 50 overs.
India had England reeling at 133 for 5 but Sophia Dunkley hit an unbeaten 73 to help them seal the 2nd ODI by 5 wickets. England also took an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the series.
Meanwhile, senior pacer Shikha Pandey said India do talk about the need for urgency in the batting and that it’s not an alien concept for the team that has struggled to make a mark in ODIs in the ongoing season.
“I mean, it is not that it is an alien concept, we still talk about it. I mean, at the very outset, if you actually go to see it is a stat, and it is something that we are working towards.
“We want to be still going ahead and playing fearless brand of cricket and we are working towards it and I am sure this is kind of a build-up to the World Cup next year and in the games ahead, we will have a positive attitude and we will look to score runs for the team to win,” Pandey said.
