Senior Women's One Day League: Elite Group A Round-up

Juggling through cricket and travel, Elite Group A teams have been on a strict schedule for the last week. From early morning hustle to maintaining the right balance between their diet, training, and sleep, teams are going through a stern test.

Discipline, work ethic, commitment, and attitude are all synonyms to the success in sports and these girls from different regions of the nation are leaving no stone unturned to make the maximum of this opportunity.

As far as the locality and weather are concerned, Mulapadu Cricket Ground is among the best playgrounds in India for cricketing activities. A lush green cricket field on either side of the central building gives access to spectators to get engaged in the enthralling contest.

Railways have maximum no. of trophies to their name, i.e. 11 out of 12.

Railways Women's Cricket Team (5 Wins in 5 Games)

Since Women's World T20 Semi-final, controversies are following Mithali Raj as bees fly around the hive. Brushing off the scares of her past, a focussed Mithali Raj is willing to make this opportunity count.

Under the guidance of Mithali Raj, Railways have won all the five games they played. With 20 points in 5 games, most by any team, Railways is proving its supremacy as they did in the past.

Leading the team with supreme confidence Mithali Raj is also good at experimenting with players from time to time. Choosing the best possible XI for a given situation and yielding a constant result, Mithali Raj has mastered the trick.

Poonam Raut, Mona Meshram, Ekta Bisht, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Sneha Rana and Veda Krishnamurthy are looking good to make this season count. If these girls perform to the full potential they possess, there is no team in the domestic circuit which could challenge them.

Winning five matches on the trot while experimenting the bench strength, Railways is raising its bar with each passing match.

Let's have a look at the Elite Group A Points Table

Saurashtra and Haryana Women haven't won a single game this season

While Harmanpreet Kaur out playing in WBBL'04, Taniya Bhatia is leading the team well.

Punjab Women's Cricket Team (3 Wins in 5 Matches)

Harmanpreet Kaur is the only name that strikes our memory whenever we hear about Punjab Women's Cricket. Unfortunately, she is not going to represent Punjab this domestic season due to her prior commitments to the Women's Big Bash League.

It is a good thing that they have stand-in captain Taniya Bhatia taking her place. Coming out of the Harmanpreet's shadow, Taniya Bhatia would be eager to hone her captaincy skills.

As far as her leadership capabilities are concerned, Taniya Bhatia has shown a lot of maturity in her work. Winning 3 out of 5 matches they played so far, Punjab Women have shown the potential to maintain the lead.

However, Punjab owes its major share of success to the opener Rasia Akhter. She has been consistent with the bat this season. Her significant contributions include a 76 against Saurashtra Women and 62 runs off 42 balls against Vidarbha. Her quick scores at the start of the game have played a vital role in Punjab's success.

With three quality pacers in the team and international experience of Taniya Bhatia, Punjab has the potential to pull themselves up in the points table.

The absence of Smriti Mandhana hasn't dented Maharashtra's confidence a bit

Maharashtra Women's Cricket Team (5 Matches 3 Wins)

Maharashtra Women will not be able to avail the service of the Indian Opener Smriti Mandhana this season due to her Women's Big Bash League contract.

Under the leadership of Anuja Patil, Maharashtra Women are riding high with 12 points in 5 games. Their recent loss against the Goa Women is the only setback of this tournament as of now. In the absence of star Smriti Mandhana, Anuja's captainship skills will be examined more than ever this time around.

Playing some of their best cricket, Maharashtra Women are unlikely to take any team lightly in the group. Their latest loss against Goa women would keep them fired up for the next game.

Till now, Maharashtra women have the highest total of this season to their name. They struck 311 runs against Haryana Women where T S Hasabnis scored a scintillating 148 runs off 131 balls.

With a strong batting line-up in M R Magre, T S Hasabnis, Anuja Patil, D P Vaidya, S S Shinde, and S R Mane, Maharashtra Women need to be little more cautious about their approach towards a weak opposition.

Shivi Pandey has been in phenomenal form this tournament

Chhattisgarh Women's Cricket Team (3 Wins in 5 Matches)

Shivi Pandey, Shalini, and Manpreet Kaur are the three names whom Chhattisgarh Women's Cricket Team owe their success this tournament. There are other names as well, but these three players would be having their names written all over on any scorecard you pick up of Chhattisgarh.

In a group game against Goa Women, Chhattisgarh set a 175 runs target. Goa women couldn't chase in 50 overs and fell short 26 runs. As the game got over, players shook their hands and headed back to the pavilion for snacks or team meetings. But it was different for the Chhattisgarh women. Rather than, going for a cool down they were up for another training session. The session was not a forceful one only the interested candidates were asked to join the coach. Such is their determination. Cricket, Cricket, and Only Cricket.

Despite winning the Associate Championships in 2009-10, they were denied the opportunity to participate for the next four years. In between, Chhattisgarh lost some great players. Embarking upon a new journey since the revival, their journey to the elite group A is nothing less than an inspiration.

Playing very competitive and professional cricket this season Chhattisgarh women have shown the hunger to go further in this tournament. They have 12 points in 5 matches.

Senior players must be feeling the heat as they have lost first four games of the tournament

Saurashtra Women's Cricket Team (4 Matches 0 Win)

Struggling with their form and mounting pressure due to successive loss, Saurashtra Women are on the brink of relegation from Elite Group.

Playing under the newly elected captain, Saurashtra Women haven't seen in the sync with their cricket. Neither the ball in hand nor the bat is doing magic for these girls. Bhakti Shashtri & Co would be keen to correct their mistakes.

The team is full of capable batswoman in Jayu Jadeja, Mridula Jadeja, who recently completed 50 One-day games for Saurashtra, Riddhi Ruparel, Bhakti Shastri and Pooja Nimawat yet apart from some individual performances here and there, the entire batting unit as a whole haven't clicked.

Mridula Kumari Jadeja has been around this team for over a decade and the most experienced of them all. Her team needs her expertise in this crunch situation where they have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

The tournament is still very much in the balance. If the stars align perfectly and the team does no wrong in the upcoming games, there is still a chance to finish with a flourish.

Saurashtra women would love to get back on the track before they come out to face their next battle.

Andhra Women's Cricket Team (4 Wins in 5 Matches)

"Underdogs" is the name that suits perfectly to Andhra Women. They are the only team after Railways in the group which is winning consistently. With 16 points after five games, Andhra has the edge over its competitors.

Playing positive cricket since the beginning of the season has helped Andhra women in negotiating teams like Punjab, Chhattisgarh, and Haryana. A calculated chase versus Punjab, magnificent 6-run victory over Haryana and a nail-biting finish against Chhattisgarh would surely fill the team with more confidence.

In the absence of their regular captain, stand-in captain Padmaja has serious responsibility on her shoulder to maintain the momentum and take the team forward.

The beauty of this Mulapadu Cricket Ground lies in its locality

Goa Women's Cricket Team (2 Wins in 5 Matches)

May not be their best of all performances but not less than a golden one. Goan girls defeated one of the heavyweights of the group, Maharashtra. Such a courageous performance in the first half of the season would definitely boost their confidence to go full throttle in the next half.

With 8 points in five games, Goa women are so far safe from facing group relegation. Sanjula, Sunanda, Rupali, Sonali, and Captain Vinavi Gaurav have to be little more cautious with their game as the season moves ahead.

Vidarbha have the potential to go further but need to stick as a unit

Vidarbha Women's Cricket Team (4 Matches 1 Win)

Vidharbha would be satisfied to carry home 4 points after they crushed Goa Women in the last match.

Last time they came close to a win was against Andhra Women where they lost quick wickets in no time and that, cost them the first win of the season.

Apart from B S Fulmali's consistency, captain K R Zanzad has a lot of areas to fulfill before they march on the next game. Individual performances won't do good for Vidarbha until they click as a team.

Haryana Women's Cricket Team (4 Matches 0 Win)

Haryana Women are known for their hard-hitting abilities but their performance this season is not as hard as it could have. Mansi Joshi & Co are yet to register a win after four games. Not the kind of start Mansi Joshi would have wanted.

A team very much capable of scoring big and chasing any total is, along with Saurashtra women at the bottom of the points table. Only a lionhearted approach can make Mansi Joshi & Co bounce back from this position.

Haryana women have a lot of positives to take from their last match against Andhra women. A collective effort from the team can take them out of the pit they are already stuck in.