India’s T20 World Cup campaign has hit a roadblock after a disappointing start. Despite being pre-tournament favorites, Harmanpreet Kaur’s team has underperformed, losing to New Zealand and narrowly defeating Pakistan.
The team’s biggest concern lies in their batting unit. Explosive openers Shafali Varma and Smriti Mandhana have failed to make an impact, struggling against spin and posting dismal Powerplay scores. The onus falls on Mandhana to lead the charge against Sri Lanka’s spin-heavy attack, despite her underwhelming record against them.
The bowlers have also been inconsistent. India’s dominant record against Sri Lanka (19/5) offers little solace, as the Indian team has not played since the Asia Cup final in July, where they suffered a defeat.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will be eager to secure their first points after losses to Pakistan and Australia. Led by Chamari Athapaththu, they will look to exploit India’s vulnerabilities and make a strong comeback.
With a crucial match against Australia looming, India cannot afford another slip-up. They must improve their net run rate (-1.217) and find a way to ignite their batting unit. The team’s fate hangs in the balance as they face Sri Lanka in a must-win encounter.
