Mumbai: Indian women’s ODI team skipper Mithali Raj said the team is focussed on avoiding the qualifiers ahead of the 2021 World Cup but reckoned it will be a major challenge facing World Cup champions England in the absence of injured Harmanpreet Kaur.
The Indian women’s team begins its three-ODI series against England at home on Friday without Harmanpreet Kaur, who has been ruled out of the series due to an ankle injury.
Mithali said her team is focused on holding on to its position in the top-four of the world rankings till 2020 to get direct qualification for the 2021 World Cup.
“It’s a very important series for us. Points are at stake and I definitely want the team to get direct entry,” she said.
India had beaten England 2-1 the last time the visitors were here in 2018. (PTI)
