The India women’s cricket team will likely take the field against Sri Lanka with two of their tried and tested performers. Pooja Vastrakar and Harmanpreet Kaur might not be available for India’s third match of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Injury concerns
Vastrakar had bowled just one over in the New Zealand game, and before the Pakistan match, Harmanpreet stated that an niggle has ruled her out. During the Pakistan match, the Indian captain suffered a neck injury. With little over 24 hours left before the India vs Sri Lanka match, we are still unsure where they stand.
“It’s too soon to say anything. The medical team is looking at it,” Smriti Mandhana had commented on Harmanpreet’s injury. The comment doesn’t really inspire confidence. If not completely 100%, both might not play because going with 10 or 9 players in the match could further diminish India’s semifinal qualification chances.
Yastika Bhatia in?
S Sajana had already replaced Vastrakar in the last match and finished the game with a first-ball boundary. Yastika Bhatia wasn’t in India’s original plans but will have to come in for Harmanpreet Kaur. She can also solve the number 3 problem. The southpaw hasn’t played since April due to injuries.
In her absence, Team India has failed to find someone suitable enough to one at first drop. Uma Chetry and Dayalan Hemalatha even tried at the position in the Women’s Asia Cup, and in the first two Women’s T20 World Cup matches, Harmanpreet and Jemimah Rodrigues have also batted there but unsuccessfully. The Indian management would hope that Yastika would do better in what is a do-or-die match.
Bowling on point
The bowling seems to be set even without Vastrakar. Arundhati Reddy and Renuka Thakur are doing well, and the spin trio of Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana and Deepti Sharma have controlled the game superbly, especially in the middle overs.
Predicted India Playing XI vs Sri Lanka
Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana (vc), Yastika Bhatia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, S Sajana, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, Renuka Singh Thakur
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