“We do have the momentum – we gained in Bangladesh, we gained in opposition to South Africa,” Muzumdar mentioned two days out from the Check in Chennai. “They’re completely different codecs, however on the similar time, we are attempting to concentrate on each sport because it comes. The calls for [of playing a Test] are completely different. I feel the workforce is up for it, and I feel so far as enchancment is worried, I feel all three departments – batting, bowling, and fielding, and health – 4 departments [can improve].”
The groups bought solely 5 days to organize for the upcoming Check in opposition to South Africa following the conclusion of the ODIs on June 23, however Muzumdar feels the gamers are conscious of the problem of switching codecs, contemplating red-ball cricket is a part of their long-term plans.
“In December, we performed in opposition to England and Australia; we performed back-to-back Assessments,” he mentioned. “We’re conscious that red-ball cricket shall be part of ladies’s cricket going ahead, and therefore I really feel that the inter-zonal, which occurred in March-April, was very crucial. In order that the gamers additionally get the message that it is not simply white-ball cricket or simply T20s that we’re specializing in. We’re additionally specializing in the red-ball stuff, and I feel they’re conscious and they’re prepared and raring to go within the multi-day format. To regulate to that could be a completely different story.
“These are the calls for of modern-day cricket. You already know you can not escape that as a workforce. So we attempt to cater to all of the calls for. It is not straightforward, however on the similar time it is a problem and we settle for it as a problem to adapt to completely different codecs.”
Whereas the core of the workforce will not change as India swap codecs, the likes of Shubha Satheesh, Sneh Rana, Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Meghna Singh, who didn’t play the ODIs, shall be coming in for the Check.
“I feel these 4 gamers are crucial gamers. We did have a camp that occurred on the NCA about 15 days again, and so they have been particularly given red-ball stuff to be executed within the camp,” Muzumdar mentioned. “So that they’ve already had the workload. The workload has been shared to them, and in addition after they went again house, they have been informed a couple of issues to do. Their weekly chart was organised and given to them. So that they’re fully recent and raring to go. Even after they’ve come right here and [are] within the squad, we simply had a follow session yesterday with these 4 gamers, and so they look completely positive.”
“It is not a nasty concept to have Check Championships,” he mentioned. “That is one thing to look ahead to, however that’s for the board to determine. And if it occurs, it is even higher for the sport. Check cricket is all the time particular. We wish to preserve it that means, that you understand each sport is vital [regardless of the context] – whether or not it is ODI, T20 or Check match. I do know there isn’t any Check Championship to look ahead to, however on the similar time, each sport is vital. We participate to win them.”
“She’s positively an excellent expertise, and that is the explanation she is right here,” he mentioned. “We have made a acutely aware determination of together with her within the workforce in order that she will get a really feel of the dressing room, and in addition the environment and the tradition that we’re constructing. She will get a first-hand expertise to that. She’s positively a very good expertise, and we are going to hear extra about her sooner or later.”
Sruthi Ravindranath is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo