IND-W vs AUS-W: India is concerned about the availability of skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and pacer Pooja Vastrakar ahead of their T20 World Cup semifinal match against Australia in Cape Town later on Thursday night. It is believed that both players are ill and were admitted to a nearby hospital on the day before the game before being released that evening. In the event that Kaur is unable to recover, Smriti Mandhana will lead the team against Australia, who are vying for a third straight T20 World Cup victory. Follow ICC Women’s T20 WC 2023 LIVE with InsideSport.In
- Harmanpreet Kaur and Pooja Vastrakar are uncertain to play in the Semifinal.
- In the absence of Kaur, Smriti Mandhana will lead Team India.
- Harleen Deol can come as the replacement for Harmanpreet Kaur.
- Anjali Saravani can come in as a replacement for Pooja Vastrakar.
- If India looks to strengthen their batting, will bring in Yastika Bhatia.
IND-W vs AUS-W: Smriti Mandhana to lead India against Australia in SEMIFINAL, Harmanpreet Kaur & Pooja Vastrakar go down with illness, Follow Women’s T20 World Cup LIVE Updates
BREAKING: At least one reserve player from the Indian squad has been approved by the ICC #T20WorldCup Technical Committee to join the main squad as replacement ahead of the #INDvAUS SF
I won’t be surprised if that reserve player is Sneh Rana. Who goes out?
Official word awaited
— Annesha Ghosh (@ghosh_annesha) February 23, 2023
Due to India’s continued optimism that the pair will be match-ready, a decision regarding their availability is only anticipated around Thursday afternoon. There are also questions regarding left-arm spinner Radha Yadav’s fitness, so if both are ruled out, it will severely hurt India’s hopes on Thursday. India, who entered the game as the underdog, now has an even greater challenge.
Meanwhile, if Kaur is not fit to take the field, then Harleen Deol can come as the replacement in the middle order. The Women in Blue captain hasn’t had a good tournament so far, scoring only 66 runs in four matches. But, Kaur has a reputation of bringing out her A-game in big matches, something India would definitely need against a power-packed Australia.
IND-W vs AUS-W: Smriti Mandhana to lead India against Australia in SEMIFINAL, Harmanpreet Kaur & Pooja Vastrakar go down with illness, Follow Women’s T20 World Cup LIVE Updates
However, Vastrakar’s unavailability will mean Anjali Saravani will have to be included in the playing XI to maintain the bowling combination India has gone with so far (three pacers and three spinners). And if Radha Yadav fails to make the cut, India will be in a complete mess.
India has taken the field with three pacers and three spinners in the tournament. In case Vastrakar and Radha are not available, then they would be forced to change bowling combinations too. While Devika Vaidya will become a certainty, India may have to include left-arm medium pacer Anjali Sarvani and if they look to strengthen their batting, will bring in Yastika Bhatia.
IND-W vs AUS-W: Smriti Mandhana to lead India against Australia in SEMIFINAL, Harmanpreet Kaur & Pooja Vastrakar go down with illness, Follow Women’s T20 World Cup LIVE Updates
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