<p>Mithali Raj wants her top-order batters to shoulder responsibility in the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup (March 4 to April 2) in New Zealand.&nbsp;</p>
<p>India will begin their campaign in the eight-nation tournament against Pakistan on March 6 at Mount Maunganui.</p>
<p>Before the World Cup, Team India will play a solitary T20I and five ODIs against Kiwis starting February 9 in Napier.</p>
<h2>Back in 2017</h2>
<p>Captain Mithali, 39, who led the side to the 2017 final in England, recalled how the top-order helped the team reach the final.</p>
<p>&ldquo;In 2017, when the team did well, we put up scores from 250 to 270 because at least one top-order batter played through the innings. It&rsquo;s important that one of them takes the responsibility of playing through the innings. If the top-order contributes, we will be able to score 250 to 270 [in this World Cup].</p>
<p>&ldquo;It is very rare that the middle-order or lower middle-order scores the bulk of the runs. It is important that we, as a batting unit, take responsibility of our roles,&rdquo; Mithali said during a pre-departure virtual press conference from Mumbai on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Mithali, who has scored 7,391 runs from 220 ODIs, played her first World Cup in NZ in 2000 [when India lost to NZ by nine wickets in the semi-final] and will be playing her sixth now. She is hell bent on capitalising in her last opportunity.</p>
<h2>&lsquo;A wonderful journey&rsquo;</h2>
<p>&ldquo;It has been a wonderful journey; not an easy one. There have been ups and downs, there have been some struggles. My first World Cup was in 2000 and here I am flying to NZ for my sixth. This time, I hope India play the final and win. Winning a World Cup is special for any player and I am no different. It still drives me,&rdquo; remarked Mithali, adding that she is yet to decide whether she wants to continue playing after the mega event.</p>
<p>Vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur, 32, is the most experienced batter [scored 2,568 runs from 107 ODIs] after Mithali. However, she has managed just one half-century in her last 27 ODIs. But the team&rsquo;s head coach, former India off-spinner Ramesh Powar is not worried about Harmanpreet considering her 399 runs and 15-wicket performance for Melbourne Renegades in the Women&rsquo;s Big Bash recently.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I think it is important that you back your players. As far as Harman is concerned, she&rsquo;s just came out of the Women&rsquo;s Big Bash as the player of the tournament. She is in good form, it is up to her to capitalise on those good days,&rdquo; Powar said.</p><p>
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India will begin their campaign in the eight-nation tournament against Pakistan on March 6 at Mount Maunganui

Mithali Raj: Top-order batters crucial to World Cup fortunes

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Mithali Raj: Top-order batters crucial to World Cup fortunes

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