Youngsters showing potential to fill Mithali, Goswami’s shoes: Harmanpreet Kaur 

With the average age of the squad being 22.8, India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur believes her young side can fill the shoes of legends Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami going into the T20 World Cup starting February 21. She feels that success in Australia could open new doors for women’s T20 cricket back in the country.

While Mithali stepped away from T20Is last year, Goswami played her last back in 2018 before the last edition of the T20 World Cup, leaving India without arguably their best batter and bowler of this generation. “We already miss the experience they share with us, but these young girls are showing their talent and ability,” said the 29-year-old, speaking at the captains’ media day at Taronga Zoo in Sydney on Monday (February 17).

“They never show us that they’re young, they can always do what we expect of them. The team is looking in really good shape and showing what they can do with extra responsibility. In the last two years, it’s really changed – I’ve gone from being the youngest one to one of the oldest in the team.”

ALSO READ: Mithali Raj's biopic to be titled 'Shabhaash Mithu'

Harmanpreet, who was part of the side who finished runners-up in the 50-over World Cup in 2017, is well aware of what a long run in an ICC tournament can do for her country. “Our team is growing day by day, everyone is looking so positive. The tri-series with England and Australia was a good stage for us to prepare ourselves very well and we’re ready to give our best to try and win for our country,” said Kaur.

And with the growing success of domestic competitions such as Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), the Indian skipper is hopeful that India can soon enjoy their own breakthrough and take the domestic game to the next level. “Over the last two years, we have already had a few games as part of the Women’s T20 Challenge and this year we are looking forward to more,” added Harmanpreet, who became the first Indian cricketer to join an overseas league when she joined WBBL side Sydney Thunder in 2016.

ALSO READ: Women’s IPL is 4 years away - BCCI President Sourav Ganguly

“If we win the World Cup, there’s no doubt things will change. That tournament would bring a lot of confidence to the girls. We’ve seen it from the WBBL, girls are going and playing there and getting confident, then doing really well at the international level. A women’s Indian Premier League will be really good for us,” she concluded.