After showing “up and down” so far, India will need to play a perfect game against the mighty Australians at the Women’s World Cup in Auckland on Saturday if they want to get their campaign back on track.
In the previous series against New Zealand, the Indian bowlers struggled to find momentum, but in the World Cup, the batting performance has been inconsistent with the team suffering two wins and as many losses after four matches.
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With three league games remaining, India will have to achieve consistency in all departments and maintain their place in the top four to qualify for the semi-finals.
“If I had an explanation (for the batting inconsistency), I would certainly have discussed it in the dressing room. In the New Zealand series, our batsmen did well, the last four matches (in WC) the batting hasn’t clicked as a unit and that is something we need to work on,” star opener Smriti Mandhana said. Australia said before the conflict.
“I am sure tomorrow will be a perfect game for the batsmen. The bowlers are doing a great job for us, they need more support from the batsmen.”
With four wins from four matches, Australia look unstoppable, but if there is one team that can stop their juggernaut, it is India.
The Mithali Raj-led side went down in a close match in Australia last year, ending the 26-match winning streak of Meg Lanning’s side.
Indian batsmen have performed exceptionally individually, but not as a group.
Mithali and all-rounder Deepti Sharma have made it to the number three spot in the first four matches but both have not contributed significantly so far.
Smriti has shown top form and Harmanpreet’s comeback between the runs gives the team a huge boost.
Smriti and Harmanpreet scored centuries against West Indies and formed a match-winning partnership. Former India captain Diana Edulji is of the opinion that now that Harmanpreet is back in form, she should bat better than her current number five.
There may be further changes in the batting order for Australia’s game as earlier experiments have not yielded the desired results.
Veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami, who is playing his 200th ODI, has made an impact in all games so far and will be expected to provide early breakthroughs against the formidable Australians.
Left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gaikwad has been the highest wicket-taker for India with eight wickets.
India could manage only 134 runs in the last game but the bowlers still managed to carry the game and got six English batsmen out.
They will have to find a way to get out in-form opener Rachel Haynes, who has scored 277 runs at an average of 92. Most of the Australian players have contributed to the team’s unbeaten run in the tournament.
Ellyse Perry has acted with both bat and ball while spinners Alana King and Ashley Gardner have also been effective.
The two teams have developed an intense rivalry over the years and Australia will look to avenge their semi-final loss in the 2017 edition when they take the field at Eden Park on Saturday.
Teams (from):
Australia: Meg Lanning (captain), Rachel Haynes (VC), Darcy Brown, Nick Carey, Ash Gardner, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington.
India: Mithali Raj (c), Harmanpreet Kaur (vc), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Sneh Rana, Jhulan Goswami, Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Renuka Singh Thakur, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav.
The match will start at 6.30 am Indian time.
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