#3) Virat Kohli (captain)
Though it might look like Kohli hasn’t scored too many in the three matches that he played against New Zealand, his contributions were 45,43 & 60. That's because we have come to expect the extraordinary from him every time. Kohli has already crossed the 300-run mark in ODIs in the first month of the calendar year. He also remains the best No 3 in the world and also captains this team of combined players.
#4) Mithali Raj (vice-captain)
Mithali Raj made her ODI debut way back in 1999 when not even one of the players in the current men’s team had won their first cap. Her ODI career stats are as follows: 200 matches, 6,622 runs at an average of 51.33 with seven centuries and 52 half-centuries.
Raj is the first woman to play 200 ODIs and is also the highest scorer in the format. In New Zealand, Raj came to India’s rescue once again in the second ODI. India had lost two quick wickets early on, but she kept her cool to see the chase through with Mandhana.
Raj would be the ideal No 4, more so when India lose quick wickets. She is also the vice-captain of this team.
#5) Harmanpreet Kaur
Harmanpreet Kaur is similar to MS Dhoni in more than one way. Apart from sharing his jersey number, Kaur and Dhoni are both street-smart, both pack a punch with their shots and both are the designated finishers for their teams.
Her innings of 171* against Australia in the semi-final of the 2017 Worlld Cup was unforgettable. She was unstoppable as she hammered 171 off 115 balls with 20 fours and 7 sixes and the innings floored the defending champions. Even in the finals against England, India were with a chance as long as Kaur was at the crease. When she got out for 51, it was disaster for India. In New Zealand, Kaur made 24 in the only match that she got an opportunity to bat. She can also play the role of a batting all-rounder in this team.
Published 05 Feb 2019, 10:42 IST