We want to set a momentum going into the tournament"- Mithali Raj on India's WC opener against Pakistan

Indian skipper Mithali Raj hailed Pakistan as a "good side", while asserting that the Women in Blue will approach their campaign opener with full intensity despite having a stellar record in 50-over World Cups against their arch-rivals.

India, the 2017 runners-up, will start their journey towards their maiden ICC title with a high-pressure, blockbuster encounter against Pakistan at the Bay Oval.

Mithali & Co have beaten Pakistan in each of their past three meetings in the quadrennial event but the veteran cricketer stressed that their rivals have come into this tournament with good preparation and her side will have to be at her best to extend their lead to 4-0.

"I think Pakistan is also a good side and I am sure they have prepared very hard for the tournament and so have we. Every team here is good, we can’t take anyone lightly. So we will get into playing every game with a lot of intensity and with a lot of confidence," Mithali Raj said as quoted by India Today.

Raj added that the team is excited to get their campaign rolling and are aiming to put their best foot forward as they aim to clinch their maiden title.

"As a team, we are excited to get into the World Cup and start our campaign tomorrow. We are not looking at it as Pakistan we are playing against, we are looking at a team, which has come prepared and we are equally prepared to put our best foot forward," she added.

"We want to set a momentum going into the tournament and that is how we look at the tournament."

Harmanpreet Kaur's return to form was one of the few positives for India in the recent ODI series against the White Ferns.

Kaur, who is averaging sub-30 since the last World Cup, scored a match-winning half-century in the final ODI and she backed it up with a hundred in the warm-up game against South Africa.

Raj termed Kaur's return to form a welcome sign, adding that the T20 skipper is a crucial part of the batting core.

"Well it is important. She (Harmanpreet) is one of the core members of the side and her experience does matter in the middle," Raj added.

"She tends to play with the tail as well, because she comes in the middle-overs and with the game that she has, it is very important that she comes into form, because we are looking at scoring very high in the top-order. So, it is good to see her among runs just before the tournament," she said.

The ODI skipper signed off by reminiscing her journey with Jhulan Goswami as Indian cricketers besides adding that the champion seamer will be crucial to her sides' fortunes. 

"We both (me and Jhulan) have been part of the dressing room for quite some time. We have enjoyed representing our country and have faced a lot of victories and defeats and I think it is just great to have her (Jhulan) when we are playing this World Cup," she said.

"And over the years she has been the front-line bowler for India and has delivered each time I have given her a ball. So her experience as a fast bowler will always be helpful to the team and to the young speedsters in the side getting into this World Cup." added Raj.

India will open their World Cup campaign on March 06 and will be aiming to clinch their maiden World Cup title.