Cricket Enthusiasts Rejoice: India’s Jemimah Rodrigues and Pooja Vastrakar Fit to Play First ODI Against South Africa
Ahead of the highly anticipated India vs. South Africa cricket series, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur has confirmed that Jemimah Rodrigues and Pooja Vastrakar, both returning from injuries, are fit and available for selection in the first ODI on Sunday.
Rodrigues, who missed the recent tour of Bangladesh due to a back niggle, and Vastrakar, whose injury status was previously unclear, have now fully recovered and are set to bolster the Indian lineup as they take on the visitors.
Harmanpreet, speaking on the eve of the series opener, expressed her enthusiasm for the points system in multi-format series, stating that it adds an extra layer of challenge and excitement for the players.
“If the points system is there, it’s more challenging and will be good to have,” she said.
The upcoming series against South Africa will feature three ODIs, followed by a one-off Test and three T20Is in Chennai. While the points system is not in place for this particular series, Harmanpreet believes that its introduction can make the overall experience more engaging for both players and fans.
The last time India played an ODI was in the series against Australia at home in December 2023-January 2024, which did not utilize the points system. With the focus largely on the upcoming T20 World Cup in Bangladesh this October, the series against South Africa provides a valuable opportunity for India to shake off the rust in the 50-over format and prepare for the 2024 ODI World Cup, for which they have already secured automatic qualification as hosts.
“Nowadays we are playing more T20 games but ODIs are something that, as a player, you have more time to assess yourself and even the conditions. It’s good for us that we are getting more matches to express ourselves,” Harmanpreet added.
The return of Rodrigues and Vastrakar is a significant boost for the Indian team as they look to make a strong start to the series against South Africa. Cricket enthusiasts can look forward to an exciting and competitive encounter, with the potential for an added layer of drama if the points system is introduced in future India series.
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