Women’s T20 World Cup 2023: Indian left-handed batter Smriti Mandhana is likely to miss India’s high-voltage match against Bismah Maroof’s Pakistan on February 12.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Feb 10, 2023 20:38 IST
WT20 WC 2023: Mandhana doubtful starter for clash vs Pakistan after finger injury. Courtesy: PTI
By India Today Web Desk: Smriti Mandhana is unlikely to play in India’s opening match against Pakistan in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 to be played on Sunday, February 12 at the Newlands in Cape Town. The 26-year-old injured her finger during India’s warm-up match against Meg Lanning’s Australia, after which she didn’t take part in the game against Nigar Sultana Joty’s Bangladesh.
“She suffered an injury in the practice game. We can’t say she is out of the World Cup yet. But she could miss the Pakistan game,” an ICC source was quoted as saying to PTI.
The left-handed Mandhana failed to get off the mark against the Aussies after fast bowler Darcie Brown accounted for her wicket. The southpaw hasn’t been in overly great form of late after she scored only 86 runs from five matches in the tri-nation series, also featuring West Indies and hosts South Africa.
Barring the 74-run knock she played against the West Indies, Mandhana failed to score big in the series.
There are also concerns around skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s fitness after she didn’t bat in the warm-up matches against Bangladesh and Australia.
Harmanpreet injured her shoulder in the final of the T20I tri-series, but said that it’s only rest that she needs to get back in shape.
“My body is fine. It will get better with rest,” Harmanpreet said after the final, which India lost to South Africa by five wickets at the Buffalo Park in East London.
Apart from Bismah Maroof’s Pakistan, India will also face Heather Knight’s England, Hayley Matthews’ West Indies and Laura Delany’s Ireland in the Group B games.
