India and Australia are all set to square off in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023 semi-final at Newlands, Cape Town on Thursday (February 23).
On the eve of the all-important clash, India wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh addressed a press conference, where she said that the Women in Blue would need to put up at least 180 on board to challenge the defending champions.
"Australia is comfortable chasing because they bat deep, we do too, but toss is not in anyone's hand. So whatever the situation, we will have to go through with it. We have plans," Ghosh stated.
"We don't know how the pitch will behave tomorrow but it looks nice. We can target 180 on this if all our batters click and while bowling we will try to restrict them to 140-150 because they have a good batting line up," she added.
Australia have lost just one T20I in the last 22 months and that defeat came against India last December in Mumbai via a Super Over. The five-time champions are unbeaten in the ongoing World Cup so far.
"Australia are beatable, in the our last series we beat them and we have also done it before. They are a strong team but we can beat them," Ghosh stated.
"We are trying to improve our mindset. Everyone has the game but the team that is mentally strong will win. We have been working on that," she further said.
Having played in a five-match series two months ago, Richa Ghosh said that India plan to exploit Australia's weaknesses.
"We know the weak spot of Australia and we are planning against it but I will not say what that (weakness) is because then they will come prepared."
Ghosh, who is the team's leading run-scorer in the marquee event so far, said India will play an attacking game similar to Australia on Thursday.
"They attack a lot. So, whatever happens to them, even if the batter is out, they don't leave the attacking. Because they have batters from top to bottom. We also have batter from top to bottom. So, we will play an attacking game."
"I only see the ball and try to play according to it, I don’t see who is bowling because if we start thinking that a top bowler is bowling then the nervousness creeps in," she concluded.
(With PTI Inputs)
