Snehasis Mukherjee in Dubai
India secured a commanding 82-run win over Sri Lanka in the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at the Dubai International Stadium. This victory gave a crucial boost to their net run rate (NRR) as they prepare to face Australia in Sharjah on October 13. But before looking ahead, here are the five key talking points from this dominant performance:
Supreme Batting
In the previous two games, India’s batters faced heavy criticism, especially the top order. They consistently struggled to give solid starts, and the team lacked attacking intent.
However, on Wednesday, Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana built a strong 98-run opening partnership in 12.4 overs. After that, captain Harmanpreet Kaur came in at No. 3 and played a brilliant knock.
She remained unbeaten on 52 from just 27 balls, hitting eight fours and one six. Thanks to the top three, India posted a total of 172/3 in 20 overs.
Clinical Bowling performance
India’s bowlers had a rough start against New Zealand in the opening game. But they bounced back strongly against Pakistan and carried that momentum into the match against Sri Lanka.
Arundhati Reddy impressed again with another three-wicket haul. Renuka Singh also contributed by taking two wickets. The spin trio of Deepti Sharma (1), Shreyanka Patil (1), and Asha Sobhana (3) claimed the remaining five wickets and bowled out the opponent for just 90.
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Superb Fielding efforts
After the Sri Lanka game, the most relieved person in the Indian camp must be the fielding coach. India’s fielding had faced heavy criticism throughout this World Cup, especially for dropped catches.
But against Sri Lanka, they seized every opportunity. From Radha Yadav’s stunning catch to Renuka Singh Thakur’s diving effort, it was a flawless night for Indian fielders. Heading into the Australia game, India’s fielding unit will be full of confidence, and fans can now feel more reassured.
Batter Harmanpreet steps up
After leaving the field with a neck injury against Pakistan, there were concerns about Harmanpreet’s availability for the Sri Lanka match. However, the skipper made the cut and finally justified her role at the crucial No. 3 position.
In the warm-up games and against New Zealand, she struggled at that spot. Though she contributed against Pakistan, it was from No. 4.
But against Sri Lanka, Harmanpreet rose to the occasion at one down. She hit some beautiful boundaries and scored a quickfire 52, helping India post a big total.
Smriti Mandhana’s proactive captaincy
When India came out to defend the total, Harmanpreet did not take the field, and Radha Yadav replaced her as a substitute. This left vice-captain Smriti Mandhana to lead the team, and she did so brilliantly.
One of her standout moves was using Shreyanka Patil in the powerplay overs. Mandhana’s proactive approach continued as she skillfully rotated the spin and pace options during the middle overs, impressing everyone with her leadership.
There were many positives for Team India after the comprehensive win, especially ahead of the upcoming clash against the defending world champions in Sharjah. This victory should stand out as one of the most dominant for India at T20 World Cups. More importantly, it came at the perfect time, providing a much-needed boost for the players and fans ahead of bigger challenges.
Also Read: Harmanpreet and Smriti: A Difference in Leadership?