India, SA eye building momentum, fitness of Jemimah, Pooja in focus

India and South Africa will be eager to achieve different goals with broer picture of Women’s T20 World Cup hanging in backdrop when y begin a three-week long all-format series with first ODI in Bengaluru on Sunday.

In year of T20 WC, 50-over matches might look a bit incongruous but y are significant for two teams looking to hit a busy ro to ICC showpiece, to be hosted by Banglesh in October, on a winning note, and gain momentum.

Harmanpreet Kaur-led side, which h lost ODI and T20I series against Australia at home this January, came roaring back, blanking Banglesh 5-0 in a recent away T20I series and hosts would like to build on it furr.

He coach Amol Muzumdar termed result as a vital stepping stone in ir preparation along with target-oriented camps in Bengaluru and Mumbai.

"We h fantastic preparations in last eight weeks. We went to Banglesh and won series 5-0. We practiced on same ground where we will be playing World Cup.

"We also h a couple of camps before this series (against SA). We h a split camp. bowlers' camp was held at NCA (Bengaluru) and batters' camp was in Navi Mumbai. It was a concentrated camp and we achieved some desired results," said Muzumdar.

However, victory over Banglesh on slow tracks was crafted by Indian bowlers as batters often struggled to hit top gear.

But a return to M Chinnaswamy stium with its placid pitch, short boundaries and quick outfield, will fill m with hope.

likes of Harmanpreet, Smriti Mandhana and Shefali Verma will be keen to get back to run-making ways.

Fitness of Jemimah, Pooja under scanner India will also keep an eye on fitness of top-order batter Jemimah Rodrigues, who h missed series against Banglesh with a back injury.

Rodrigues, who has been undergoing rehab at NCA, was included in squ subject to fitness.

Medium pacer Pooja Vastrakar, who appeared in all matches against Banglesh, has also been named in squ, though she is also recuperating from an unspecified injury.

But India have enough depth to cover possible absence of aforementioned duo, and young wicketkeeper batter Uma Chetry will also be closely monitored.

uncapped player has replaced injured Yastika Bhatia in team and will be in contention alongside Richa Ghosh.

India's bowling unit consisting of pacers Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, spinners Asha Shobana and Shreyanka Patil will be quite a handful for visitors irrespective of nature of surface here.

On or hand, South Africa are coming off a middling series against Sri Lanka at home where y lost T20Is 1-2 before sharing ODIs 1-1.

So, y would want a turnaround in this series and in-form skipper Laura Wolvaardt will have to le ir batting. Her last five innings are: 102, 56, 41, 110 not out and 184 not out.

Proteas will also hope for or senior pros such as Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka and Nine de Klerk to find ir range at earliest.

For visitors, three ODIs have extra importance because y will be looking to bag a few Women’s ODI Championship points, crucial to ir progress to 50-over World Cup in 2025 to be held in India.

Teams (from): India: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (WK), Uma Chetri (WK), Dayalan Hemlatha, Rha Yav, Asha Sobhana, Shreyanka Patil, Saika Ishaque, Pooja Vastrakar, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Priya Punia.

South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Eliz-Mari Marz, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukune, Nondumiso Shangase, Delmi Tucker.

Match starts at 1.30 PM.