NEW DELHI: Ahead of the
T20 World Cup
later this year, the Indian women's cricket team, led by
Harmanpreet Kaur
, is aiming for a comprehensive turnaround as they face Australia in a three-match T20 series starting on Friday.
The Indian team is eager to bounce back after suffering a 0-3 defeat in the recently concluded ODI series against Australia, coupled with a loss in the preceding T20 series against England.
Despite registering historic victories in the one-off Tests against England and Australia, the Indian team recognizes the need for significant improvement in white-ball cricket, particularly against the formidable Australian side.
The recent ODI series exposed India's fielding vulnerabilities, with crucial dropped catches impacting the outcomes of matches. In the batting department, the team struggled to mount substantial scores, raising concerns about their approach and power-hitting capabilities.
Harmanpreet Kaur, in particular, is enduring a challenging phase with the bat, managing only 17 runs in three ODIs against Australia. The team's opening pair and middle-order need to step up to provide stability and firepower.
Australia, having dominated the T20 format with three consecutive World Cup victories, presents a stern challenge for India. Phoebe Litchfield and Tahlia McGrath have been standout performers for Australia, contributing significantly with the bat.
While India's bowling unit, led by Renuka Singh Thakur and Pooja Vastrakar, struggled in the ODI series, they have the opportunity to showcase their skills in more favorable conditions at the DY Patil Stadium.
Australia's approach to this series indicates a focus on preparations for upcoming global competitions, including the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh later this year and the 50-overs World Cup in India in 2025.
The DY Patil Stadium, with fresher decks and playing under lights, may provide India with a chance to turn the tide and gain confidence ahead of crucial tournaments. However, the statistics favor Australia in T20Is, with India having only six wins from 31 matches against Australia.
As both teams look to fine-tune their strategies, the T20 series promises exciting cricket action, setting the stage for a riveting battle between India and Australia.
Squads:
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c),
Smriti Mandhana
(vc), Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma,
Deepti Sharma
, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Shreyanka Patil, Mannat Kashyap, Saika Ishaque, Renuka Singh Thakur, Titas Sadhu, Pooja Vastrakar, Kanika Ahuja, Minnu Mani.
Australia: Darcie Brown, Heather Graham, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy (c&wk), Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath (vc), Beth Mooney (wk), Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham.
Time: 7:30PM IST.
(With inputs from PTI)
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