The Indian women’s cricket team faces a strong challenge to stay in contention for the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. India will take on Sri Lanka in their third Group-A match today. The match will take place today at 7:30 PM at International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. To secure a spot in the semi-finals, India must win both of their remaining group matches by a big margin. Boosting their net run rate is important to outpace their rivals and secure a top-two spot. This will be the last chance for the Indian team to keep their hopes alive for the semifinals, as following the Sri Lanka match, India will face the cup favourites Australia on October 13.
The battle between IND-W and SL-W
Historically, India has dominated Sri Lanka in women’s T20 cricket. However, Sri Lanka defeated India by 8 wickets in the final of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup earlier this year in July. This recent loss means India must remain cautious going into today’s game. In T20 World Cup history, India holds the upper hand. Of the five matches played between the two teams in World Cup tournaments, India has won four, with Sri Lanka winning just one.
India and Sri Lanka in T20 World Cup 2024
This will be the third match for both India and Sri Lanka in this World Cup. India lost their first game to New Zealand but bounced back with a victory against Pakistan. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is currently at the bottom of Group A after losing both of their matches.
For India, this match is crucial. To stay in the race for the semi-finals, India must secure a convincing win today, as only the top two teams from each group will qualify. India currently sits in fourth place on the points table.
IND-W vs SL-W Head to Head
India has historically been dominant over Sri Lanka in T20 cricket. Since 2009, the two teams have played 25 matches, with India winning 19 and Sri Lanka winning 5, while 1 match ended with no result. Their last encounter was the Asia Cup final in July, where Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets.
Matches Played: 25
India Women Won: 19
Sri Lanka Women Won: 5
No Result: 1
Players to Watch: Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana
Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur is the team’s top scorer, though she retired hurt after scoring 29 runs in the last match. Smriti Mandhana is India’s highest run-scorer in T20s this year, with 514 runs, but she has struggled to make an impact in the last two matches. India boasts a strong batting lineup, but no player has played an important inning in the tournament so far. To win today, both the batting and bowling departments will need to deliver top-class performances.
Injury update
Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur sustained an injury during the last match, forcing her to retire hurt. The team management has yet to provide any official update on her condition. Additionally, fast bowler Pooja Vastrakar is also dealing with an injury. Pooja missed the previous match, and her availability for the upcoming games remains uncertain. These injuries bring a challenge for the Indian team as they gear up for crucial matches in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.
IND-W vs SL-W Possible Playing XI
India Women’s possible playing XI: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (WK), Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Sajeevan Sajana/Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, and Asha Sobhana.
Sri Lanka Women’s possible playing XI: Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu (c), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Hasini Perera, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Sugandika Kumari, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Inoka Ranaweera and Udeshika Prabodhani.
