 |
|
India's journey in the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 hangs precariously in the balance as they prepare to face Sri Lanka. While India bounced back from a disappointing opening loss against New Zealand with a hard-fought victory over arch-rivals Pakistan, the tournament remains a tightrope walk, with net run rate (NRR) playing a critical role in determining qualification. This match against Sri Lanka presents a crucial opportunity for India to solidify their position in the tournament and attempt to climb out of the NRR deficit.
Despite facing two consecutive defeats in their opening matches against Pakistan and Australia, Sri Lanka should not be underestimated. They are the reigning Asia Cup champions and possess the capability to cause significant upsets. India's recent victory against Pakistan was a close affair, with India only securing a win with seven balls remaining while chasing a modest target of 106 runs. This reinforces the threat that Sri Lanka, led by their captain Chamari Athapaththu, Harshitha Samarawickrama, and all-rounder Kavisha Dilhari, can pose, particularly in conditions where Indian batters have struggled with tight lengths.
India faces a challenge on the batting front, with key players like Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh struggling for form, Shafali Verma failing to reach her destructive best, and Harmanpreet Kaur suffering an injury against Pakistan. However, there are some positives to draw from the improved bowling performance displayed by Arundhati Reddy and Shreyanka Patil. Reddy's impressive three-wicket haul against Pakistan, combined with Patil's contributions, indicate a potentially effective bowling unit for India. Nevertheless, the pressure remains high. A win alone might not be enough to secure India's passage to the next stage. They might need a substantial margin of victory, which will likely require a significant shift in batting approach. As India anxiously watches the outcome of the Australia vs. New Zealand match, one thing remains clear – a loss against Sri Lanka could spell the end of their T20 World Cup campaign.
Source: India vs Sri Lanka Live Score Women's T20 World Cup: IND's target - 91