Win against formidable Australia will give India huge confidence going ahead: Mithali

India's demolition of a formidable Australia in Women's T20 World Cup opener will give m a huge boost going forward, said star batswoman Mithali Raj, who also lauded leggie Poonam Yadav for her magical performance. Poonam took four for 19 to help India complete a 17-run victory against defending champions Australia on Friday.

'Will give India huge confidence'

"Everyone has been talking about how much batting depth Australia have, yet y couldn't chase 132," Raj, a former India Test and ODI captain, said in an ICC release.

"India will take so much confidence from that victory, but this World Cup is still very open. match between Australia and India proved how competitive tournament will be. It proves it does t matter where you stand in ICC rankings.  

"We will be seeing more of same drama yet. This victory proves every team has a chance," said Raj, who has retired from T20 cricket.

37-year-old veteran batswoman said " opening match definitely lived up to hype of tournament". "It was a whirlwind. re were so many ups and downs. It was a great start to tournament t only because India beat defending champions on home soil, but also because of how game progressed altoger. "At point could you say it was going in one side's favour. First we saw our early wickets fall, n we recovered and Australia had to chase 132 before ir middle-order collapsed. India and Australia both took game ir own way at different points which made it fascinating for spectators to watch."

Raj said Poonam's spell was turning point. "She's been one of main spinners for India for quite some time w, and her style worked again. Getting ir (Australia's) middle-order out really titled match towards India, she was brilliant. "Although we recovered our innings through Deepti Sharma and her partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues, it was Poonam's flurry of wickets against Australia's megastars, which completely changed game," Raj said.

Raj also praised 16-year-old Shafali Verma for scoring 29 off 15 on her World Cup debut. "Shafali Verma impressed me too on her debut. She gave India's middle order cushioning y needed to regain momentum. Verma has stuck with stroke play that she demonstrated in tri-series," she said. "I think she should be given that free range in first six overs because when you're playing a top team, runs in first six overs are so important. It was great to be 40 up after just a few overs thanks to her contribution  Australia couldn't replicate that."

Im credits: AP