Match Details
Date: 09 December 2022
Time : 7 PM IST
Venue : Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai
Ball-by-ball commentary : SportsTiger App
Preview
After a successful year so far, the Indian women's cricket team welcomes Australia women for a five-match T20I series, the first of which takes place on 9 December (Friday) at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai. India have chosen a strong squad with the likes of Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Shafali Verma powering the batting lineup. Meanwhile, Australia will be a formidable side as ever. With the T20 World Cup just a few months away, both teams will look to set the tone right.
Pitch Report
The pitch at DY Patil Stadium is a typical Bombay pitch. There will be plenty of runs on the offer for the batters, but they will have to work their way out to get them. Meanwhile, the bowlers will look to dig it in hard and extract some bounce to surprise the batters.
Team Analysis
India Women
India's batting has been mostly powered by Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma, the top three run-getters for India in 2022 who are also among the top ten in the batting charts this year having each scored in excess of 400 runs. The batting will revolve around the top four, which includes skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. But India's record against Australia since 2021 hasn't been great, with four losses and one no result. Barring Harmanpreet and Rodrigues, who average 30-plus against Australia in the said period, most of the batters have struggled. Renuka Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Deepti Sharma, who have picked up 17 wickets combined against Australia since 2021, will have to shoulder the bulk of the responsibilities with the ball.
SportsTiger Playing XI of India Women
Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana (vc), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Sabbhineni Meghana, Yastika Bhatia, Radha Yadav, Renuka Singh, Meghna Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad
Australia Women
After a 2-0 series victory at home in October 2021, Australia next faced India twice in Birmingham in July-August 2022, winning both games and the gold medal. Since then, Meg Lanning has taken an indefinite break from cricket while Rachael Haynes has retired. Tahlia McGrath (289 runs in 6 innings) and Beth Mooney (244 runs in 8 innings), who are among Australia's top three run-getters this year, will be key for Australia's fortunes along with Ellyse Perry and Healy. Alana King, the leading wicket-taker for Australia this year, should enjoy the Indian conditions which will be suitable for her leg-breaks. Jess Jonassen, McGrath and Megan Schutt will be the other key bowlers for Australia.
SportsTiger Playing XI of Australia Women
Alyssa Healy (c), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland.
Match Prediction
Conclusion
Although India will be playing at their home, they have a young side as compared to Australia who have been formidable in any condition. The likes of Alyssa Healy and Alana King will be big threats for the Harmanpreet Kaur-led team.
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