Harmanpreet Kaur and Pooja Vastrakar might miss the semifinal against Australia due to illness

India are concerned about the availability of skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and pacer Pooja Vastrakar before of their T20 World Cup semi-final match against Australia in Cape Town later Thursday evening. Both players are said to be unwell and were admitted to a nearby hospital on the eve of the game before being released later that evening. A decision on their availability is not expected until Thursday afternoon (SA local time), although India remains hopeful that the two will be match ready. Vastrakar has only taken two wickets in the competition so far, but he is one of the main prospects with the new ball with Renuka Singh.

While India has fielded three pacers and three spinners, if Vastrakar and Radha are unavailable, they would be compelled to change bowling combinations as well. Although Devika Vaidya is a certain conclusion, India may have to add left-arm medium bowler Anjali Sarvani and, if they want to bolster their batting, Yastika Bhatia. If both are ruled out, India’s chances on Thursday would suffer greatly, since there are also fitness doubts concerning left-arm spinner Radha Yadav.

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Australia are favourites

If Kaur is unable to recuperate, Smriti Mandhana will skipper the team against Australia, who are attempting to win their third T20 World Cup in a row. India are already underdogs in the match, and the sickness of two of their important players makes it even more difficult for them. Harleen Deol will take Kaur’s position on the pitch if she is unable to play. The Indian skipper has had a difficult campaign, scoring only 66 runs in four matches. She does, however, have a history of bringing her A-game in crucial games, which India will undoubtedly need against a powerhouse Australia squad.

Australia, rated first in women’s T20 cricket, is entering the knockout stages with no defeats, although India was defeated by England in their most recent encounter. While Australia will be looking to extend their winning run, Team India will be looking to outclass the merciless Aussies in order to advance to the finals. Despite missing Australia’s last group game, Alyssa Healy is leading the way with the bat at this tournament. She returned from a six-week layoff due to a calf injury and did not skip a beat, hitting two fifties in the first three games. Chasing lesser totals against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka limited Australia’s middle-order batting time, but Tahlia McGrath took most of her opportunity against South Africa, blasting a 29-ball 50.

Richa Ghosh has been India’s standout finisher this event, evidently relishing the South African conditions after helping India’s U19s win the World Cup here last month before joining the senior side. She has struck out once in four games while scoring 122 runs with a strike rate of 140. Smriti Mandhana has got back-to-back fifties after missing the first game. Renuka Thakur has been India’s apparent standout with the ball in hand, with her swing trouncing top-order batsmen throughout the group stage. She has seven wickets thus far and an outstanding economy rate of 5.46.