Challenge is to make yourself ready in such a short time: Harmanpreet Kaur on upcoming home Tests

NEW DELHI: Preparing for their first home Test in nearly a decade, the captain of the Indian women’s team, Harmanpreet Kaur expresses apprehension about the significant challenge of adjusting to red-ball cricket within a limited timeframe, given the demanding international schedule.
The Indian team is set to engage in two Tests on home soil, commencing with a clash against England starting from December 14 in Navi Mumbai, followed by another against Australia from December 21 in Mumbai.
Harmanpreet underscores the worry regarding the insufficient exposure to red-ball cricket for the Indian women’s team.
In her illustrious career, she has participated in merely three Test matches, emphasising the need for quick adaptation to the nuances of this format ahead of the upcoming fixtures against formidable opponents.
“The Test series is something which we are really looking forward to because I haven’t played in front of a home crowd [since 2014], so I’m really excited for that,” Harmanpreet was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
“The challenge for us is that we haven’t played with the red ball. We have been playing with the white ball for so many years.
“Even in domestic cricket also, we don’t have red-ball cricket back home. So the challenge for us is to make yourself ready in such a short time.”
Hamanpreet has scored just 38 runs at an average of 7.60 in 3 Tests but has nine wickets to her name that she claimed during her only home Test in November 2014 against South Africa. Her remaining two Tests were against England in Wormsley (2014) and Bristol (2021).
While she is currently in Australia for Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), Harmanpreet will be playing Melbourne Renegades‘ final game versus Melbourne Stars at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on November 25, leaving her just 19 days to prepare for the England Test beg.
However, she would also be featuring in the three-match T20I series against England beginning December 6, which precedes the Test, thus curtailing her red-ball preparations.
Harmanpreet had planned on practising with the red ball during her WBBL stint but the packed schedule has sent her plans for a toss.
“I had that thought if I can simultaneously do some red-ball practice also, but because it’s such a packed schedule you can’t mix things,” she said.
“We’re playing T20 cricket, and the Test game is a totally different kind of game, so I didn’t want to mix it. When I’m going back, I have ten days to prepare myself.”
While Harmanpreet missed out on the Gold Coast Test against Australia in 2021 due to a thumb injury, she said that she had watched the fixture closely, thereby getting a sense of how to play the format and tactically captain the side.
(With PTI Inputs)