After the historic victory in Lord’s Test, women’s team India has written a new story of victory. In this test, young Yastika Bhatia and Kranti Goud performed brilliantly and led Team India to victory in the first women’s test played at Lord’s. ABP News Consultant Ravish Bisht had a special conversation with former Indian player Reema Malhotra about the Test victory at Lord’s and defeat in the Women’s World Cup.

Question – How do you view the historic victory of the women’s team at Lord’s?

Answer – The victory of the Indian women’s team is a very positive thing because after a bad T20 World Cup, when people’s hopes are lost, then comes the Lord’s Test match. For the first time, we play a Test at Lord’s and you beat England there in England, what can be a bigger positive than this. You are proving in every format that you are made for that format and the way the players have adapted themselves to the conditions is commendable. The skill level of our team is much better than others.

Question – The way Yastika and Kranti performed at Lord’s, do you think the future of the Indian women’s team is quite bright?

Answer – 100 percent! The future of our team is very bright. You always look up to Harman Smriti but Yastika was making a comeback at Lord’s. His World Cup did not go well. Despite that he scored a century. The credit for this also goes to Harman because he thought it better to go with Yastika while Priya Punia was also in the team. Yastika is technically better and she also showed hunger at Lord’s. We will also have to back Kranti who took five wickets at Lord’s. I was surprised that he was not played all the matches in T20. Kranti is the fastest after Jhulan Goswami, so you cannot keep her on the bench.

Question- Why did we lose the T20 World Cup? We even have a league like WPL?

Answer: There is no single reason but bad fielding is a big reason. We have to prepare special players for T20. Bharti Fulmali was given one match. Richa Ghosh got the least number of balls while her strike rate was the best. You will have to use Yastika like Australian player Litchfield. Like Shefali, she will also have to be given a license. The batting order will have to be corrected and Richa will have to be played higher. The bowlers will also have to be kept right. The leg spinner will have to be given a place in the playing XI. Overall there is a need to work in all three departments.

Question – Do we need power heaters in T20?
Answer – If you get power hitters like Richa Ghosh then your team will become very strong and the Indian team can do this. Apart from Shefali in the top, if you include Richa and Bharti Fulmali in the top 4, then this team will look better to you. Also keep an eye on Shweta Sherawat and Diya Yadav, they have both strength and timing. So the power hitters will have to be brought in and backed because there is a high risk with them.

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Question – Despite having a women’s league like WPL, why have we not been able to win the T20 World Cup till date?
Answer – See, the Australian League has been around for 18 years whereas the Indian League has been around for only 4 years. We will have to give some time to the Indian women’s team. Just as we showed patience in One Day cricket, we will have to show the same patience in T20 also. Preparing players and selecting them at the right time is the key to making the right team in T20.

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