3 Players who can help India win the Gold Medal in Commonwealth Games

The Indian women’s team is all set to start the inaugural Commonwealth Games campaign in Birmingham from July 29. A total of eight teams have been divided into two groups- A & B as each team will be competing against the remaining three teams of the group. In total, 16 games, including the finals, will be played and three teams will bag the gold, silver and bronze medals each.

Women’s cricket is being played at the Commonwealth Games for the first time, and all eight teams will give it their all to win the Gold. Each squad will play each of the other three teams in their group once. As a result, each side will play three matches before the semi-finalists are announced. The Indian team is backed by a 3-0 series win against Australia, and the Women in Blue will look to carry the winning momentum while eyeing for the Gold at the global event.

Let us have a look at 3 Players who can help India win the Gold Medal in Commonwealth Games:

1. Harmanpreet Kaur

The Indian skipper will play a key role in the team’s lineup. Kaur managed the captaincy pressure and her all-round skills very well in the recent stint against Sri Lanka, but she will need to contribute more with the bat as India would look to build a strong middle-order. Kaur has been in fantastic form in the T20 format, be it the franchise cricket or the international arena, and thus she will be a major component in India’s Gold medal hunt.

2. Smriti Mandhana

The prolific opening batter and the Indian vice-captain, Mandhana’s role at the top-order will be pivotal. The team will depend upon her, and her opening partner Shafali Verma, to provide the side with a solid start. One of the key members of the contingent and a permanent face in the playing combination, Mandhana has aced the role of an opener. She was at her best at The Hundred and the WBBL but could not put up a worthy show against Sri Lanka. Thus, she will need to regain her mojo.

3. Pooja Vastrakar

The Indian squad felt the absence of Jhulan Goswami for a long time after she announced her retirement from the T20Is. But Vastrakar’s emergence as the much-needed pacer ended the team’s troubles. The young all-rounder was the second highest wicket-taker for India at the Women’s World Cup and ended her campaign with 10 wickets. She has also played some match-winning knocks with the bat and played the finisher’s role in the team. Thus, her strategy with the bat as well as the ball can lead the Indian team to clinch the gold.