The anticipation is building as India gears up to take on Australia in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 on Sunday, October 13 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE. The Australians have already secured a spot in the semi-finals, being the first team from Group A to advance to the next stage. Led by Alyssa Healy, the Australian team has an unbeaten record so far in the tournament and will be looking to continue their winning streak against the Indian team.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s side, on the other hand, will be determined to secure a victory and book their place in the semi-finals. The challenge posed by the Australian team is formidable, but the Indian players are ready to give it their all on the field. With the Sharjah pitch known for its slow nature, the bowlers are expected to have an advantage, although batting under lights may present some challenges. The smaller boundary dimensions at the ground mean that the batters will also have opportunities to score big.
In their previous encounters, India has faced Australia 34 times in WT20Is, with Australia dominating the head-to-head record with 25 wins compared to India’s 8. However, in recent years, India has managed to defeat Australia on a few occasions, giving them confidence going into the match.
The Indian team is likely to stick with the same playing XI that secured a convincing win against Sri Lanka in their last game. Harmanpreet Kaur, who had an injury scare, led from the front in that match, guiding her team to victory. The return of Pooja Vastrakar from injury may result in a change in the line-up, with Sajana Sajeevan possibly making way for her.
Predicted XI for India: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Richa Ghosh (WK), Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Asha Sobhana, Shreyanka Patil, Arundhanti Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur
Predicted XI for Australia: Alyssa Healy (C & WK), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown
The stage is set for an enthralling encounter between two powerhouses of women’s cricket. India will be looking to upset the odds and secure a place in the semi-finals, while Australia will be aiming to maintain their winning momentum and continue their quest for the T20 World Cup title. It promises to be a thrilling match that fans won’t want to miss.