Harmanpreet Kaur and Shafali Verma. (Photo Source: BCCI Women)
The forthcoming training camp for the Indian Women’s squad, scheduled to be held at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru later this week as part of their preparation for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, is poised to be comprehensive. The initial phase of the camp will emphasize fielding and fitness, progressing subsequently to specialized drills such as spot bowling and range hitting.
Additionally, a sports psychologist will be integrated into the programme to conduct sessions for the team. This inclusion, a long-standing request from captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, aims to assist players in addressing their challenges and effectively managing strain and cognitive drain, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
The players scheduled to be absent from the initial of the two training camps, with the second slated for early September, include Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, and Richa Ghosh, who will be engaged in England for The Hundred Women’s 2024. Additionally, Jemimah Rodrigues will be undertaking her inaugural appearance in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League 2024, representing the Trinbago Knight Riders.
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The squad selected for the 20-over World Cup to be held in Bangladesh will reconvene in early September for an intensive skills-focused camp as part of their final preparations for the tournament. India will be aiming to secure the title for the first time in what will be the ninth instalment of the global spectacle, having previously earlier faltered in crunch situations on several occasions, most notably in the final against Australia in 2020 and the semi-finals in 2023.
The India Women’s squad faces a hiatus from international fixtures between now and the commencement of the World Cup, with no scheduled matches on their calendar during this period. Meanwhile, the India A squad is currently engaged in a multi-format series in Australia.
Indian Women’s team will be ardently focused on meticulous preparation during the forthcoming training camps and subsequent practice sessions. Their objective would be to reverse their fortunes in the T20 format and secure the coveted silverware. Determined to overcome the disappointment of their defeat in the final of the Women’s Asia Cup 2024, the squad would be intent on achieving peak fitness and performing exceptionally well in the upcoming World Cup in October.