Mithali Raj backs youngsters Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh to do well in World Cup

Mithali Raj is confident that youngsters like Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh will rise to the occasion at the upcoming women's World Cup in New Zealand next month. Mithali reckons the 18-year-old Verma, who was the team's standout performer during the 2020 T20 World Cup, will continue to play impressive knocks for the country in the marquee event. "Shafali Verma is surely one of the players being watched with great enthusiasm back home," Mithali wrote in her column for the ICC. "She is one of the world's rising stars and I am backing her to have more impressive performances for India throughout the tournament with guidance and support from the stylish Smriti Mandhana at the other end."

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The Indian women's cricket team's horror tour of New Zealand continued as the White Ferns demolished the visitors by 63 runs in a rain-curtailed fourth WODI on Tuesday to inch towards a clean sweep in the five-match series here.

The big-hitting Verma has had a relatively lacklustre tour of New Zealand by her standards, having scored only one half-century. However, Richa Ghosh, who is competing with the Taniya Bhatia for the wicketkeeper's spot, has made most of her chances. The 18-year-old slammed back to back fifties in the second and fourth ODIs. "Taniya Bhatia has been very reliable behind the stumps and Richa Ghosh is hot on her heels, meaning we have two wicketkeepers we can trust." The veteran batter added that the India team is very "fortunate" to be heading into the marquee event having played top sides like holders England, Australia and hosts New Zealand recently.

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India captain Mithali Raj was