Having put up a patchy efficiency within the Women’s T20 World Cup up to now, India will have to lift their game drastically against nemesis Australia within the first semifinal right here on Thursday.
India, who have been among the many high groups during the last 5 years however unable to win a significant trophy, have expectedly made the semifinals of one other ICC occasion.
However, they have been responsible of self-destructing previously particularly in a knock-out game against England or Australia.
Australia beat India within the earlier T20 World Cup last at house and extra lately on the Commonwealth Games gold medal match in Birmingham final 12 months.
Women’s cricket in India has grown massively for the reason that last look on the ODI World Cup in 2017 and now it’s excessive time the group converts its promise into efficiency by stepping up in a do-or-die game just like the one on Thursday.
Though the Harmanpreet Kaur-led facet gained three of its 4 video games within the group stage, not one efficiency could possibly be known as convincing together with the game against Ireland. Their sole loss got here against England.
Considering the way in which India have performed thus far, one can solely hope that someway they’re ready to repair all their points for the large game, whether or not it’s the inconsistent top-order, the lack to hit sixes barring Richa Ghosh or the excessive dot ball share.
Opener Shafali Verma made her worldwide debut greater than three years in the past and although nonetheless a teen, she has not been ready to be taught from her errors, primarily her incapacity to rotate the strike and her susceptibility against the quick ball.
Skipper Harmanpreet herself will be beneath super strain to carry out having not performed something of word thus far within the World Cup. She is likely one of the few batters who can hit the ball lengthy however has been inconsistent for much too lengthy.
Another loss in a World Cup knock-out game may finish her captaincy tenure.
Jemimah Rodrigues has performed alright within the match however wants to do extra to assist the group’s trigger.
Star batter Smriti Mandhana has been among the many constant performers and as soon as once more she will be vital to the group’s probabilities against Australia, who’re identified to increase their game in a giant game to ‘invincible ranges’.
The Meg Lanning-led facet can be carrying a 22-match T20 successful streak into the semifinal.
Australia have misplaced simply two official matches in any format since dropping a T20 game to New Zealand in March 2021, however notably, each of these defeats have come against India. In December, they outplayed India 4-1 within the collection performed in Mumbai.
In the bowling division, pacer Renuka Thakur has been India’s finest bowler within the occasion with seven wickets thus far, together with a 5 for 15 against England.
Deepti Sharma went for runs in her one over against Ireland, however she has been essentially the most constant within the spin division. The likes of Pooja Vastrakar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, and Radha Yadav will have to be rather more correct against the rampaging Aussies.
Australia opener Betth Mooney is cautious of India’s problem although going by previous outcomes, they need to win comfortably.
“I’m expecting it to be a huge contest, they’ve pushed us significantly in the last few years, and they have a bunch of match winners in that line-up as well,” Mooney advised reporters right here on Tuesday.
“We’re not expecting it to be easy by any means, whether it’s with a bat or the ball, but we certainly know the style of play they’ve come at us with in the past and they know ours pretty well, too.” Harmanpreet stated although her group misplaced the house collection, the gamers obtained lots of confidence out of the excessive scoring 5 video games.
“I think that series gave us a lot of confidence, you know, the brand of cricket we played in that particular series was something which gave us a lot of confidence.
“And now we all know them very properly. We performed 5 video games back-to-back after which one follow game, we all know, their power, their weak spot.” Although wicket-keeper Alyssa Healy missed Australia’s final group game against South Africa with quad soreness, the opener is fit for Thursday’s match.
Teams
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Richa Ghosh, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Devika Vaidya, Radha Yadav, Renuka Thakur, Anjali Sarvani, Pooja Vastrakar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Shikha Pandey.
Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Alyssa Healy, Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Grace Harris, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham.
Match begins at 6:30 P.M.
