India wants Harmanpreet to fireplace within the crunch sport

The all-important conflict between India and England on the Holkar Stadium right here on Sunday brings two stars in Harmanpreet Kaur and Nat Sciver-Brunt.

Teammates within the Women’s Premier League, they’ve received two titles for Mumbai Indians. The two had been in the midst of a three-ODI collection, which went India’s manner 2-1 earlier this yr, within the run-up to their maiden ODI World Cup campaigns as captains.

Come Sunday, and it’d come down to those two as soon as extra.

Sciver-Brunt has been England’s batting anchor, trying snug in opposition to seam and spin. Her run-a-ball 117 in opposition to Sri Lanka put her repertoire on present.

She can also be helpful as a seam-bowling all-rounder, with 4 wickets to her identify within the event to this point, permitting England to discipline a spin-heavy line-up with out compromising on batting or tempo reserves.

Harmanpreet, in the meantime, has had a tough experience, on house turf no much less. With a prime rating of twenty-two, she has not been in a position to stamp her authority with the bat. She has additionally come below scrutiny for an uncharacteristic passivity in marshalling the sector.

While the Indian suppose tank is greater than able to strategic fixes, it’s Harmanpreet the batter who wants particular consideration. She is a participant who thrives in World Cups, the place her common — 45.09 — is best than her profession common (36.69) within the format. In reality, her most memorable knock has come within the occasion: the long-lasting unbeaten 171 in opposition to Australia in 2017.

Ahead of her greatest check but on this event, one wonders if she seemed again on some stellar knocks from the previous throughout an extended solo coaching session on Thursday.

Take her counter-attacking unbeaten 107 in opposition to England within the 2013 showpiece occasion for example. She accessed all components of the Brabourne Stadium with authority, irritating the English regardless of finally ending on the shedding facet.

There’s additionally the 84-ball 102 she smashed in opposition to the identical opponent earlier this yr, one other elegant effort the place she was at her big-hitting greatest.

The 36-year-old’s half-century in that record-breaking third ODI in opposition to Australia a month in the past was essential to serving to India keep within the chase for so long as it did.

With captains throughout the spectrum — from Alyssa Healy and Laura Wolvaardt to Sophie Devine — taking cost of their facet’s fortunes in key encounters, India will want Harmanpreet, the unforgiving aggressor on a batting-friendly Indore observe, now greater than ever.