&w=3840&q=100)
'It was not intentional,' says Pratika Rawal on England shoulder contact
The ICC had earlier imposed a 10 per cent match fee fine and handed a demerit point to Rawal for breaching its Code of Conduct, saying the Indian batter engaged in avoidable physical contact with England's Lauren Filer and Sophie Ecclestone in the 18th and 19th overs.
It was not intentional. I was just running in my way and that shoulder barge thing was completely out of... It was not deliberate in that sense, Rawal told the media on the eve of the second ODI here.
I don't think there is a (need to have a) reaction to it or maybe (make) a fuss out of it. It was not intentional, she added on the incident that took place at Southampton.
England were also fined five per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate during the opening ODI which India won by four wickets.
The ICC said both Rawal and England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt "accepted their respective sanctions" imposed by the match referee.
Rawal said India are focussing on one game at a time given they are coming off a 3-2 win in the five-match T20I series and need only one win from next two matches to win the ODI series.
We are taking just one game at a time. Currently, our prime focus is to win this series. To win the next match, we are already up in the series. Our prime focus is to win this series with 3-0, that will be great, she said.
Also, what I feel like, keeping one thing at a time, it helps with better focus and better concentration so we are just on that note, she added.
The right-handed top-order batter said scoring against teams like England Australia with whom India will play three ODIs before the World Cup at home will give her a lot of confidence.
The opener made a 51-ball 36 in the first match that India won by four wickets.
Scoring well against teams like England and Australia gives you a lot of confidence and when we get a lot of matches against them, it builds a type of confidence that is required in the upcoming series and matches, Rawal said.
It's a great initiative to play as many matches as we can. Also, the fact that the way our team is progressing right now is amazing and there has been a lot of contribution from all the players, she added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
14 minutes ago
- NDTV
AIFF Breaks Silence On Xavi Hernandez, Pep Guardiola's 'Applications For India Coach'
A day after its top official claimed that World Cup-winning Spanish great Xavi Hernandez was among the applicants for India football coach's position, the All India Football Federation said that the e-mail received in his name was found to be "not genuine" and three others have been short-listed for the job. The AIFF did not reveal the names in the pruned list but it is widely believed that Khalid Jamil, currently the head coach of Indian Super League side Jamshedpur FC, is the front-runner for the post left vacant by Spaniard Manolo Marquez. "The AIFF received an e-mail furnishing the applications from Spanish coaches Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernandez. The authenticity of their applications could not be confirmed, and it has since emerged that the e-mail applications were not genuine," AIFF stated in a media release. One of its officials, on conditions of anonymity, had stated on Friday that the application of Xavi could not be processed as the AIFF did not have resources to hire his services. The IM Vijayan-headed Technical Committee, it is learnt, has also kept Englishman Stephen Constantine, who has previously coached India, and Slovakia's Stefan Tarkovic in the short-list. Constantine has coached the Indian team in two phases earlier, while Tarkovic is the most decorated among the shortlisted candidates having managed Slovakia during the 2020 Euro Championship, where his team beat a fancied Poland which had Bayern Munich legend Robert Lewandowski in its ranks. "Following comprehensive discussions and a rigorous selection process, 10 candidates were selected for the committee to review, following which, the TC shortlisted three," the release also stated. "Given the immediate needs of the national team, it is advisable to recommend three coaches from the short-listed pool for final consideration," former India skipper Vijayan was quoted as saying in the release. "Other prominent applicants, many of whom are highly qualified international coaches, will be taken into account for long-term strategic roles in the future," he added. National Team Director Subrata Paul, also a former India skipper, spoke about preference being given to those with some understanding of Indian football. "It is a very important moment for Indian football, and we are committed to appointing a coach who not only brings technical expertise but also understands the unique style, culture, and dynamics of Indian and Asian football. "We believe such a coach will be able to connect with our players quickly and effectively," Paul stated.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
14 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Jasprit Bumrah next in line to retire from Tests? Here's what Kaif said
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has sparked speculation over Jasprit Bumrah's future in Test cricket, suggesting that the pace spearhead could be the next senior player to step away from the longest format following Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin. 'Won't be surprised if Bumrah decides to retire soon' Speaking in a video on his verified X handle, Kaif expressed concern over Bumrah's physical condition, particularly after his underwhelming performance on Day 3 of the fourth Test against England, where he managed only one wicket in 28 overs. 'Looking at how things are, I won't be surprised if Bumrah decides to retire from Test cricket soon. Virat, Rohit, and Ashwin have already moved on, and Bumrah might follow,' Kaif remarked. 'I sincerely hope I'm wrong, but he just doesn't look comfortable out there. The passion is clearly there, but his body seems to be giving up.' Kaif added that Bumrah appeared to be 'losing the battle with his body,' highlighting a notable drop in pace and overall effectiveness. He noted that during the Old Trafford Test, Bumrah was mostly operating in the 130-135 kmph range, rarely breaching the 140 kmph mark, a far cry from his usual sharpness. Bumrah denying captaincy for workload management Earlier this year, Bumrah had declined India's Test captaincy offer post-Rohit's retirement, citing concerns about workload management. "I didn't think it would be fair to the team to have a captain for just a few Tests. Continuity is important, and I've always prioritised the team's needs,' Bumrah had explained. The 31-year-old, currently ranked No. 1 in the ICC Test bowling rankings, has struggled with injuries in recent months. He was unable to bowl during the second innings of the final Border-Gavaskar Test in Sydney due to a back problem and subsequently missed the 2025 Champions Trophy and the early phase of the IPL. On the ongoing England tour, Bumrah has carefully managed his workload, playing only three of the four Tests so far. While he impressed at Headingley with a five-wicket haul and followed it up with another strong showing at Lord's, his diminished pace and rhythm during the Manchester Test have raised fresh doubts about his long-term fitness. Kaif pointed to these worrying signs, saying, 'Bumrah is a proud cricketer. If he feels he's no longer able to deliver at his best for India, he may step away on his own terms. He's the kind of player who wants to contribute meaningfully, not just participate.' India now faces the reality that their pace ace may no longer be a regular presence in red-ball cricket, with Kaif hinting that fans may soon have to adjust to a Test side without one of its most impactful fast bowlers.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
14 minutes ago
- Business Standard
AIFF clarifies Xavi, Guardiola didn't apply for India head coach role
A day after its top official claimed that World Cup-winning Spanish great Xavi Hernandez was among the applicants for India football coach's position, the All India Football Federation said that the e-mail received in his name was found to be "not genuine" and three others have been short-listed for the job. The AIFF did not reveal the names in the pruned list but it is widely believed that Khalid Jamil, currently the head coach of Indian Super League side Jamshedpur FC, is the front-runner for the post left vacant by Spaniard Manolo Marquez. "The AIFF received an e-mail furnishing the applications from Spanish coaches Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernandez. The authenticity of their applications could not be confirmed, and it has since emerged that the e-mail applications were not genuine," AIFF stated in a media release. One of its officials, on conditions of anonymity, had stated on Friday that the application of Xavi could not be processed as the AIFF did not have resources to hire his services. The IM Vijayan-headed Technical Committee, it is learnt, has also kept Englishman Stephen Constantine, who has previously coached India, and Slovakia's Stefan Tarkovic in the short-list. Constantine has coached the Indian team in two phases earlier, while Tarkovic is the most decorated among the shortlisted candidates having managed Slovakia during the 2020 Euro Championship, where his team beat a fancied Poland which had Bayern Munich legend Robert Lewandowski in its ranks. "Following comprehensive discussions and a rigorous selection process, 10 candidates were selected for the committee to review, following which, the TC shortlisted three," the release also stated. "Given the immediate needs of the national team, it is advisable to recommend three coaches from the short-listed pool for final consideration," former India skipper Vijayan was quoted as saying in the release. "Other prominent applicants, many of whom are highly qualified international coaches, will be taken into account for long-term strategic roles in the future," he added. National Team Director Subrata Paul, also a former India skipper, spoke about preference being given to those with some understanding of Indian football. "It is a very important moment for Indian football, and we are committed to appointing a coach who not only brings technical expertise but also understands the unique style, culture, and dynamics of Indian and Asian football. "We believe such a coach will be able to connect with our players quickly and effectively," Paul stated.
