Women’s T20 World Cup: Nervous India search for much-needed intent vs Sri Lanka

India should know that their clash against Sri Lanka could well end up deciding their fate in the Women’s T20 World Cup.

Time’s well and truly running out for them as Harmanpreet Kaur’s women have not made it any easier for themselves until now in challenging conditions in the United Arab Emirates. The smallest of mistakes against the Islanders on Wednesday in Dubai could land them in a deeper hole.

For India, wins itself would not be enough to secure a berth in the semis. They need more. They need to up their net run rate, which is still at an underwhelming -1.217 despite their six-wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan. After the heavy loss to New Zealand in the opener, India did return to winning ways, but they are faced with a tricky test in their remaining two games.

Given the form Australia have shown, first against Sri Lanka and then against the White Ferns, India may not find it easy to mend their net run rate in their last group game in Sharjah. Smriti Mandhana, who has struggled to find her feet thus far with failures in their first two games, said that pitches in the UAE have not been batting friendly.

“It (NRR) was playing in our minds last match against Pakistan. But the conditions here in the UAE are quite different and scoring quicky is not as easy as it may seem,” Mandhana said in the press-conference before the match against Sri Lanka.

India, meanwhile, would have heaved a sigh of relief after Mandhana said that Harmanpreet recovered from the neck injury that she sustained against Pakistan. There are, however, doubts about Pooja Vastrakar’s fitness after the fast-bowling all-rounder missed out last time due to a niggle.

Sri Lanka eye Asia Cup heroics
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, are on the brink of elimination after losing to Pakistan and Australia. But before their next game, Chamari Athapaththu and Co. can take inspiration from their heroics in the Asia Cup final two months ago. Despite not being the favourites, Sri Lanka came out firing on all cylinders and beat a full-strength Indian team in Dambulla.

But it is the skipper who needs to step up big time. With scores of three and six, Athapaththu has been far from her best, although she picked up three wickets against Pakistan, including once being on a hat-trick. Harshita Samawickrama needs to produce a knock like the one she played in the Asia Cup final. Nilakshika de Silva has played a couple of handy knocks as well.

Vishmi Gunaratne, who has come up the ranks after playing U-19 cricket for Sri Lanka, remains one of their prolific batters. Sugandika Kumari and Udeshika Prabodhani have four wickets apiece to their name and have been their standout bowlers thus far. Inoka Ranaweera also brings in a lot of experience, having taken 92 wickets in T20Is.

India vs Sri Lanka Head-to-Head
India and Sri Lanka have played 25 Women’s T20Is thus far since they first met back in 2009. India have a 19-5 lead over their Asian rivals, while one game did not have a result. In Women’s T20 World Cups, India have won four out of five matches against Sri Lanka. In their previous meeting in the mega event, India beat Sri Lanka by 32 runs in 2020 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

India vs Sri Lanka Predicted XI
India

Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Richa Ghosh (WK), Deepti Sharma, Sajeevan Sajana, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, Renuka Singh

Sri Lanka

Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu (C), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Hasini Perera, Anushka Sanjeewani (WK), Sugandika Kumari, Inoshi Priyadarshini, Udeshika Prabodhani, Inoka Ranaweera

India vs Sri Lanka Prediction
India might not be in the best of form, but they are expected to ease past Sri Lanka, who have not had much to cheer for in the ongoing tournament. India should win their next game, but there is more at stake for them.