India skipper focused on repeating past success with a clear road to victory

The Indian bowlers put on a dominant display, ripping through the West Indies batting line-up to restrict them to a mere 44 runs in just 13.2 overs, then chasing down the target with ease in just 4.2 overs.

India captain Nikki Prasad opened up on how the team plans to go about their title defence after the impressive victory.

“Being the champions last time, we are just coming in with that confidence,” she said.

“And we are here to win so that is what we will try to do every game.

“Playing tournaments like the Women’s Premier League and the Challenger Trophy gives you a lot of confidence when you get scores or when you get wickets, you are then quite confident to come here and show what you can do.”

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The bowling trio of Joshitha VJ, Aayushi Shukla, and Parunika Sisodia were the standout performers and made themselves too hot to handle for the West Indies batters throughout their spells.

Both Joshitha and Aayushi took two wickets each, and Sisodia completed the Indian carnage by scalping three wickets. The West Indies’ innings with the bat also included three run outs.

Joshitha VJ, who started the havoc, shared her thoughts after the match, and also revealed her cricketing idol in the process.

“It is a wonderful start for us, the team was really supportive so I felt confident to bowl.

“I am looking to swing more with the ball, I have good speed so I like to swing it. I like Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, I like his action so I have tried to copy that.”

India chased down the target in just 4.2 overs, with the duo of G Kamalini and Sanika Chalke showing aggression from the start after the early dismissal of G Trisha.

Parunika Sisodia, who starred with the ball with her 3-7 in 2.2 overs, opened up on the team’s plans and how they executed them perfectly.

“Our plans were pretty simple, seeing the conditions and the weather, we decided if we won the toss we were going to field first because the weather is for bowling and that is what our team did.

“For me, there were very simple plans just to bowl ahead and let the ball do the work because already we were in a very good position and the weather made it pretty hard for the batters to bat on.

“We are always looking forward to playing a game, expressing ourselves and everything is falling into place.”

India’s next match is against the hosts, Malaysia on 21st January in Kuala Lumpur, before concluding their group-stage fixtures with a clash against Sri Lanka on 23rd January.