Coach Powar “not concerned” about series defeat, blames extended mandatory for bowling flop show

India suffered defeat in the lone T20I before losing the three ODIs on the trot to concede the five-match series to New Zealand.

The Indian women's team has lost all the four matches so far in its ongoing tour of New Zealand but coach Ramesh Powar is "not concerned at all" as he attributed the poor performance to lack of game time due to COVID-19 and quarantine-related issues.

India suffered an 18-run defeat in the lone T20I before losing the three ODIs on the trot to concede the five-match series to New Zealand. The visiting team has not won a match so far.

"We had only three days of practice sessions ahead of tour. You cannot get into a competitive series like against New Zealand in such less time. So, there will be some rustiness in the players' approach," Powar said at the post-match conference after India lost by three wickets in the third ODI here on Friday.

"There is no concern at all, I'm not concerned about anything. After Australia, we did not play any game as a team. We came straight to NZ. When you want to address few issues about batting, fielding and bowling, you need to play as a group before a series which did not happen." Powar admitted that batting has clicked on this tour but there has been "inconsistencies" in bowling department but expected that things will be sorted out before the World Cup starts next month.

"Batting has clicked. From England tour to where we are now. We have scored 270, 280. In Australia also, we have scored 260, 270 so batting unit has done its job," said Powar, adding that opening batter Smriti Mandhana will be available from the next game after coming out of quarantine on Tuesday.

"It is now the bowling unit to get into rhythm. There were restrictions on doing practice, other limitations. So, I have to give (benefit of doubt) to the bowlers, they will come back hard when the World Cup begins." India put up 270-plus targets to New Zealand in the second and third ODIs but the bowlers failed to defend on both the occasions.

"We have missed our genuine fast bowlers, we just played with Jhulan, Simran, Renuka (and Pooja) because of unavailability," he said.