Sri Lanka will not be an easy tour for us, says captain Harmanpreet Kaur

India Women cricketers on arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday

• Indian Women cricketers arrive for six-match tour   

Indian Women cricketers led by their newly appointed ODI captain Harmanpreet Kaur arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday for a six-match white ball series.

The 17-member side picked for the three T20Is in Dambulla followed by the three ODIs at Pallekele will be looking to use the matches to fine tune their squads for the Commonwealth Games starting next month and the T20 World Cup next year in South Africa.

Kaur said the Sri Lankan tour will be the ideal platform for several young players selected in the side to perform. 

“For me, it's a great opportunity where you can build a good team. Sri Lanka is not going to be an easy tour for us. So, it's important [to ensure that] whatever we are planning we go and deliver. That's what as a unit we are looking forward to,” said Kaur.

“In T20s we will definitely look to [play] our first combination, give them as many games as possible. In the ODIs, we have a little time to prepare for the next World Cup [in 2025] and it is where we will see if we can give chance to each and everybody.”

“When you move forward in a transition period, you need to give opportunities to young players to cement their places, said head coach Ramesh Powar. “For that as a support staff, we need to go and give them support through NCA and skill coaches that they should concur in every situation. So, this is the right time for players to take their opportunity and do well going forward.”

The tour commences on 23 June with the first T20I at Dambulla.