Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar is of the opinion that every player in the Harmanpreet Kaur-led team has to come with her best performance when they take on the mighty Australian team in the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup match to be played at Sharjah.
Triangular Battle for Semifinal Spot: India, New Zealand, and Pakistan Face Off
Since now Group A topper Australia has won all three of its matches, this makes for a triangular contest between India, New Zealand and Pakistan for the second final spot. India’s hopes of making it to the semifinals got a big boost when they defeated Sri Lanka by 82 runs, they also got their NRR to a positive figure which currently stands at + 0, 567.
“The Indian Women’s T20 team has been on a roll, but the real test lies ahead in their match against Australia. It’s a clash of titans, and we need every player to step up and deliver their best. It’s India’s test of their advancement in women’s cricket as Australia is the benchmark in world cricket,” said Manjrekar, a Disney+ Hotstar expert, ahead of the clash.
India’s Path to Semifinals: Crucial Victory Needed Against Australia
Thus, for the third ranked India to be through to the semifinal, they would have to beat Australia in Sunday’s dead rubber match at Sharjah Cricket Stadium and hope that they have a superior Net Run rate than the champions as well as New Zealand, if the Kiwis also win their two remaining games.
Even if India loses, they would then have to pray that both Pakistan and New Zealand had a worse net run rate than them if both teams have four points apiece. India’s challenge to victory on Sunday appears a tad easier as fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck and skipper Alyssa Healy walked off during their thrashing of Pakistan on Friday due to dislocated shoulder and right foot injury respectively.
Also Read – IND vs BAN : Sanjay Manjrekar Hails Rohit Sharma After Dramatic Day 4 Against Bangladesh