GUWAHATI, March 3 - The Indian women�s team led by Smriti Mandhana will lock horns with their England counterparts in the first T20I at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Barsapara here tomorrow.
Addressing the media here today, the World No. 1 ODI batswoman Mandhana said, �Our goal is to win the series and not just trying out new faces. We really have a very exciting team and it is important for us to believe that we are going into the series to win it rather than experimenting.�
Asked about all-rounder Harleen Deol, who replaced Harmanpreet Kaur in the squad, Mandhana said, �I think it was the selectors� decision but I think she is a brilliant player and for T20 format she is a perfect all-rounder and a good fielder too.�
Mandhana praised the BCCI for taking the matches to smaller venues as it attracts more crowd.
�I think this is a big step to develop women�s cricket. The time we landed in Guwahati the reception has been really amazing and all the players are very happy with the kind of response given by the people,� Mandhana added.
SQUADS
India: Smriti Mandhana (C), Mithali Raj, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Taniya Bhatiya (WK), Bharti Fulmati, Anuja Patil, Shikha Pandey, Komal Zanzad, Arundhati Reddy, Poonam Yadav, Ekta Bisht, Radha Yadav, Veda Krishnamurty, Harleen Deol.
England: Heather Knight (C), Amy Ellen Jones, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Winfield (WK), Natalee Sciver, Danielle Wyatt, Georgia Elwiss, Katherine Brunt, Any Shrubsole, Alex Hartley, Kate Cross, Linsey Smith, Freya Davies, Laura Marsh, Sophia Dunkley Brown.
