The Indian team will be clashing against defending champions Australia in the semi-final of the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 on February 23, 2023, but have been dealt a huge blow as reports are flowing that captain Harmanpreet Kaur and all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar are doubtful for the game.
As per reports, both the cricketers are down with illness and were admitted to a local hospital on the eve of the match before they were discharged in the evening. A final call on both the players’ availability will be taken in the afternoon as India hopes the duo is fit enough to play.
However, in case, both the players are ruled out, it will be a huge blow to the Indian team’s chances as there are question marks over the fitness of spinner Radha Yadav.
If Kaur doesn’t recover, then Smriti Mandhana will captain the side against Australia, who are aiming for their third successive T20 World Cup title. It is expected that Harleen Deol will come in for Harmanpreet Kaur if the skipper misses the match.
The last time Harmanpreet Kaur met Australia in a semi-final of an ICC event, she smashed 171* in an ODI World Cup encounter. But she has had a lean tournament scoring only 66 runs in four matches.
Vastrakar has taken only two wickets so far in the tournament but is one of the key prospects with the new ball alongside Renuka Singh. However, if she and Radha are ruled out, this will force the team management to change the bowling combination as well.
Devika Vaidya will become a certainty, India may have to include left-arm medium pacer Anjali Sarvani, or if they want more power in batting, Yastika Bhatia might come in.
(Indian Express report)
