New Delhi: India opener Shafali Verma believes the team’s recent success against Australia will give them the belief they need ahead of their crucial Women’s T20 World Cup on Sunday at the Lord’s Cricket Ground. While acknowledging Australia’s stature as one of the strongest sides in women’s cricket, Shafali insisted India have already shown they have what it takes to beat the six-time champions.
India are still chasing a place in the semi-finals, and a win would all but seal their spot in the last four. “Everyone knows Australia are a world-class team. But it’s not like we haven’t beaten them before. We recently beat them in a T20 series in Australia, and that gives us confidence,” Shafali said on JioStar’s Adidas Match Centre Live.
The confidence stems from India’s memorable 2-1 T20I series triumph in Australia earlier this year, their first bilateral T20I series victory on Australian soil since 2016. After the opening match was decided in India’s favour under the DLS method, Australia bounced back in Canberra to level the series. India, however, responded brilliantly in the Adelaide decider.
Smriti Mandhana starred with a superb 82, while Jemimah Rodrigues struck 59 as India posted 176/6. The bowlers then produced a disciplined effort, with Shree Charani claiming three wickets and Shreyanka Patil delivering another impressive spell, sealing a historic 17-run victory and the series.
‘WE WILL KEEP IT STRAIGHTFORWARD’
Australia have dominated women’s cricket for over a decade and hold the edge in the T20I head-to-head against India, winning 28 of the 38 completed matches between the two sides. However, recent contests suggest the gap is steadily narrowing.
India’s recent 2-1 T20I series triumph in Australia was particularly significant as it marked their first bilateral series win on Australian soil in a decade, underlining Harmanpreet Kaur’s side’s ability to challenge the six-time world champions in their own backyard.
Shafali also believes India’s familiarity with the Australian attack could work in the team’s favour.
“We have been playing against them for years now. We know their bowlers, their strengths, and their plans. So, we will keep things straightforward, which is important, and back our own strengths. The more you overthink, the harder it gets,” she said.
India head into the contest knowing that a victory could prove decisive in their bid to progress further in the Women’s T20 World Cup. After registering a five-wicket win over Bangladesh, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side sit second in Group A with six points and an impressive net run rate of +2.268, leaving them well placed heading into the crucial clash against Australia.
