India Women’s head coach Ramesh Powar called for an “ideological change” in order to transform the side into a “fearless unit” in white-ball games as he reflected on the back-to-back series defeats to England Women.

After losing the ODI series, India lost the T20I leg of the tour too, as England comfortably beat them by eight wickets in the third and final game in Chelmsford on Wednesday.

In reply to India’s 153/6, England rode on Danny Wyatt’s unbeaten 89 to stroll home with eight balls to spare and seal the series 2-1.

Powar emphasised the need for a shift in mindset and some fresh middle-order batters who could be “moulded” according to the team’s requirements and playing style. The team needs to put opponents under pressure even after the Powerplay, Powar said.

“Mithali (Raj) is batting well, but we need support from at least one more batter in the middle order to put pressure on opponents after the Powerplay,” Powar stated.

“We have to be fearless. I can’t force them (to be so) right away. They have been playing with some ideology and we can’t make drastic changes,” the former India off-spinner added. “To get them out of it (slow batting in middle overs), we have to convince them first and to do that, it requires a lot of communication. Being fearless is how modern-day cricket will have to be played.”

Powar admitted that moulding efforts haven’t worked so far. “There are two ways. Either mould them (current lot) or draft in other middle order players to up the ante. As simple as that,” he said.

The coach indicated that till the 50-over World Cup in New Zealand next March, he would try to make do with available resources.

Brief scores:

India Women 153/6 in 20 ovs. (S. Mandhana 70; S. Ecclestone 3/35). England Women 154/2 in 18.4 ovs (D. Wyatt 89 n.o.). England Women won by 8 wickets