NEW DELHI: Not only must the Indian team defeat Sri Lanka, but also win convincingly enough to increase their net run-rate (NRR) ahead of the crucial league match against the reigning champions, Australia, on October 13.
On Wednesday, India and Sri Lanka will play their crucial penultimate group league match of the Women’s T20 World Cup.
There won’t be much room for error against the Southern Stars, who have consistently beaten India in international competitions, therefore vice captain Smriti Mandhana of India views the match against Australia as vital.
“As a player all games are important, when you come to the world cup you have to give 100 per cent each game, Sri Lanka is a good team in our group. But with Australia, you can’t make errors and minimize them, and you have to get the best game on that particular day to get the better of them.
“So, yeah there is excitement to do that on that day because they are a really good team so to come up against them and beat them,” Mandhana told Star Sports in Dubai.
After defeating India in the most recent Asia Cup final, Sri Lanka won’t be taken lightly, according to opener Shafali Verma, who feels that the islanders are no longer reliant only on their talisman captain Chamari Athapaththu.
“There was a time when Chamari was the one scoring most of the runs and taking wickets, but in the Asia Cup, her entire team performed well. They’ve improved a lot, which is why they won the cup,” said Shafali, who managed a sedate 32 off 35 balls against Pakistan on Sunday.
“Chamari carries the pressure of being a key player, and it’s inspiring to see how she handles it and performs for her country,” Shafali added.
Pacer Renuka Singh Thakur is eyeing to get the Sri Lankan skipper cheaply as she can take the game away quickly with her audacious strokeplay.
“Chamari Athapaththu is very interesting. She’s the only one from Sri Lanka who takes the team to the other side. I try to get her out as soon as possible because if she is set, she can take over the match. So I have a plan on how to get her out,” Renuka said.