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The Women's Cricket World Cup witnessed a dramatic twist as India made a late substitution in their final group fixture against Australia, bringing in left-arm spinner Radha Yadav to replace injured legspinner Asha Sobhana. This change, which required Australia's consent, came after Sobhana suffered a knee injury during the warm-up session, just after the toss. The incident unfolded when Sobhana was seen hobbling in the middle of the warm-up session, leading to her immediate removal from the playing area for treatment. Her absence was further confirmed when she didn't line up for the national anthems. With Sobhana already named in the playing XI, India needed Australia's approval to make the replacement, which was granted, highlighting the spirit of sportsmanship between the two teams.
Meanwhile, Australia also faced its own injury concerns, with captain Alyssa Healy ruled out of the match due to a leg injury. Healy, who had sustained the injury in Australia's previous game, was seen using crutches to walk, indicating the severity of her injury. Adding to their woes, fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck was also ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup after dislocating her right shoulder in the same match. The injury setbacks highlighted the unpredictable nature of the tournament and the vulnerability of even the most powerful teams.
Radha's inclusion in the playing XI provided India with a valuable bowling option as well as some much-needed lower-order batting depth. Although Radha didn't start in the first three games, she made a significant impact in India's victory over Sri Lanka by taking one of the tournament's most memorable catches at extra cover while playing as a substitute fielder. Her ability to contribute both with the ball and bat made her a crucial addition to the team. This late swap, necessitated by injuries, added another layer of excitement to the already high-stakes match, with both teams battling to secure their place in the tournament's later stages.
Source: Radha Yadav replaces Asha Sobhana in India's XI after toss