Harmanpreet’s side faces tough Test against reigning champs

Facing a stern test of character, India will need both tactical clarity and composure when they take on defending champions Australia in their crucial Women’s World Cup clash at the ACA-VDCA Stadium on Sunday. After a narrow three-wicket loss to South Africa, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side finds itself under pressure and in urgent need of both a sixth bowling option and consistency from the top-order batters.

The defeat to South Africa exposed the risks of India’s five-bowler strategy. Once the frontline pacers faltered in the closing overs, the team ran out of ideas, with skipper Harmanpreet even forced to bowl her part-time off-spin. The final overs were costly; Kranti Gaud and Amanjot Kaur conceded 30 runs in the 47th and 49th overs, handing South Africa the chase with ease.

Need for a sixth bowler

India’s current bowling unit, two pacers (Gaud, Amanjot), two off-spinners (Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana) and a left-arm spinner (Sree Charani) has lacked variety. Against Australia’s deep and aggressive batting order, featuring Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, and Ashleigh Gardner, that one-dimensional setup could be severely tested.

The management is likely to consider a sixth bowling option, possibly an additional spinner, since the surface in Visakhapatnam has offered some grip. Left-arm spinner Radha Yadav, who also contributes handy runs down the order, is a strong contender. However, dropping Sneh Rana to accommodate her would mean losing an experienced off-spinner, a risky call given Australia’s two left-handers, Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield, who both thrive against spin that turns into them.

Another option is pacer Arundhati Reddy, who could replace Amanjot Kaur. But that would weaken India’s lower-order batting, one of the few areas that has come to their rescue in the tournament. Replacing middle-order batter Harleen Deol with Yadav is also possible, though it might further destabilize an already inconsistent top order.

Top-order troubles persist

India’s biggest concern remains at the top. The batting unit has yet to click collectively, with the top order faltering in each of the first three games. The team relied heavily on late-order resilience against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, but against South Africa, the collapse proved fatal.

Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Jemimah Rodrigues must shoulder greater responsibility against Australia’s varied bowling attack led by Megan Schutt and Tahlia McGrath. Mandhana, especially, needs to rediscover her rhythm; she has managed just 54 runs in three matches at an average of 18, a far cry from her superb pre-World Cup form, where she piled up 928 runs at 66 in 14 innings.

Still, history offers hope. Australia is among Mandhana’s favourite opponents; she has scored 916 ODI runs against them at an impressive average of 48.21, including four centuries. India will be counting on her to spark a turnaround before the upcoming tests against England and New Zealand.

Probable XIs

India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Uma Chetry, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Amanjot Kaur / Radha Yadav / Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur.

Australia: Alyssa Healy (c), Beth Mooney, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Annabel Sutherland, Alana King, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt, Georgia Wareham.

The match starts at 3 PM IST.