Last Update: February 23, 2023, 14:01 IST
Harmanpreet Kaur unlikely to play semi-final against Australia due to illness (BCCI photo)
Harmanpreet Kaur and Pooja Vastrakar taken ill ahead of India’s T20 World Cup semi-final match against Australia
Ahead of India Women’s T20 World Ahead of the Cup semi-final against Australia on Thursday, the Indian management is worried about the availability of two key players – skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and pacer Pooja Vastrakar.
As per reports, both are said to have been ill and both Kaur and Vastrakar were reportedly admitted to a local hospital, a day before the all-important semi-final clash.
While he was discharged later in the evening, a final call regarding his participation in the semi-final tie will be taken on Thursday afternoon.
According to a report in Indian Express, Harmanpreet and Pooja are not the only players who remain questionable, spinner Radha Yadav’s fitness also remains a concern for the management.
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It is a big blow for India, who will be up against mighty Australia, who are yet to lose a single match in the tournament.
If Harmanpreet fails to recover in time for the fixtures, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana could be seen leading the Indian team. She may be replaced by batsman Harleen Deol in the playing XI, India will miss Kaur’s experience in the knockout tie, that too against Meg Lanning’s team.
While the Indian skipper has so far failed to light up the tournament, scoring only 66 runs in four matches, she recently crossed the 150-match mark in T20Is, and her experience could be a significant difference-maker.
Vastrakar, on the other hand, who has managed only 2 wickets in the World Cup so far, is a vital weapon for India with the new ball.
Harmanpreet & Co have fielded three fast bowlers and three spinners in the tournament so far and the entire bowling combination may have to be changed if both Vastrakar and Renuka do not make it to the semi-finals.
As such, Devika Vaidya will be the leading candidate to make it into the playing XI, while left-arm medium pacer Anjali Sarwani could also be an option along with wicket-keeper batsman Yastika Bhatia, who opened the innings with Shafali Verma against Pakistan in Mandhana’s absence. was started. ,
India had lost the final of the Commonwealth Games against Australia last year and the visiting team also won the five-match T20I series 4-1 in Mumbai.
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