We want to have direct qualification for 2021 World Cup, asserts Mithali Raj

The Indian women’s cricket team got off to a dream start under new coach WV Raman as they registered a convincing ODI series win against New Zealand on foreign soil. Opener Smriti Mandhana was in terrific form throughout the series and helped her side start the 2019 season on a high note.

Indian captain, Mithali Raj, revealed that the confidence in the Indian dugout is sky high at the moment further adding that she hoped to secure direct qualification for Women’s World Cup in 2021 unlike 2017.

“The last time we played the Qualifiers, but this time we want to have direct qualification for 2021. With series against England and the Windies coming up, we will definitely look to get maximum points,” Raj was quoted as saying in a release from the International Cricket Council.

India will look to avoid having to play qualifiers for the 2021 World Cup by staying in top four of the ICC Women’s Championship table. Mithali Raj & Co. are currently placed third in the table and will play host to England in the next assignment of the championship cycle later this month.

India finished runners-up at the previous edition in 2017 which saw them play the World Cup Qualifiers in Sri Lanka since they had to forego championship points against Pakistan.

However, Raj hailed the young talent available at their disposal as the likes of Tanya Gupta and Jemimah Rodrigues impressed against the Kiwis.

“...we did not have too many players who had the experience of the conditions with only Jhulan and me having toured here before. So winning two games here has given us a lot of confidence. Losing the third game, we have come down to number three in the rankings table but I am happy that India are in the top four,” Raj added.