Batting in focus as India face Australia in a do-or-die encounter in T20 tri-series 

With just a single victory from three games, it’s a do-or-situation for India as they face hosts Australia in their final round-robin game of the T20 tri-series at Junction Oval in Melbourne on Saturday (February 8). India languish at the bottom with just two points and the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side need to topple the Aussies if they want to have a chance to go into the final on Wednesday (February 12).

The Women in Blue started off with a five-wicket victory in the tournament opener, but since then it’s been wayward performances from the Indian side losing back-to-back against Australia and England. While the bowlers are giving their best to whatever total is given in front of them, the batters have failed to convert their starts, which is proving costly for the WV Raman-coached side, something which Kaur emphasized on Friday.

“I guess we were 20 runs short. We have to focus on areas where we were not able to get our best. Our spinners are doing well but for them to do better we need to set a total on the board,” Kaur said at the post-match presentation after their loss against England on Friday (February 7).

Meanwhile, Pooja Vastrakar, who injured herself during India’s triumph against England on February 1, was seen batting and bowling at the nets. However, it remains to be seen whether the team management wants to risk her on Saturday.

Baring opener Smriti Mandhana (with scores of 15, 35, 45) and skipper Kaur (14, 28, 42 not out), none of the Indian top-order batters could really make a mark in the series. While Mandhana’s opening partner, 15-year-old Shafali Verma, has totalled 43 in three games, another youngster Jemimah Rodrigues (23, 1, 26) is being blamed for not capitalizing on the starts she is getting. Veda Krishnamurthy and wicketkeeper Taniya Bhatia have been complete largely absent with 17 and 19 runs respectively. 

And with the likes of seamers Tayla Vlaeminck, Megan Schutt and Ellyse Perry upfront, the Indian top-order need to pull their socks up if they want to get something out of the series in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup starting February 21. “We need to bat well otherwise it will be difficult for us. Tomorrow will be do or die for us. We’ll try to give our best,” added Kaur.

Meanwhile, the bowlers have performed well in the series comparably with left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad being the pick of the lot at the top with seven wickets from three games. Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav and Shikha Pandey have also performed well. It is still not known, whether the team management will opt for an unchanged XI or they would give the ones warming the bench a chance against Australia. 

On the other hand, there is good news for the hosts as skipper Meg Lanning, who got injured during their Super Over loss to England last weekend and had to miss out against India in their previous encounter was seen having a full go. If Lanning makes into the XI, Nicola Carey might have to sit out. Batting has been shaky for the hosts with only Beth Mooney (71 runs from two games) featuring in the top five of the batter’s list.

The Junction Oval, as it was seen on Friday, had a track that was slightly favourable for spinners and pacers who could vary their pace. At times it was not coming on to the bat easily, too. In such a case, it will be interesting to see how Australia fare against Indian spinners, who might just feel a tad more at home.

An Australia win can be an expected result; will we see India turning up victorious?

Squads:

Australia: Alyssa Healy (wk), Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, Meg Lanning (c), Ellyse Perry, Rachael Haynes, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutt, Nicola Carey, Sophie Molineux, Erin Burns, Tayla Vlaeminck.

India: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Veda Krishnamurthy, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Deepti Sharma, Shikha Pandey, Pooja Vastrakar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Radha Yadav, Richa Ghosh, Arundhati Reddy, Harleen Deol, Nuzhat Parween, Poonam Yadav.