Team India is now facing a major selection issue as they prepare for the semi-final match against Australia in the women’s T20 World Cup. Two senior players including the skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and star all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar have been reported sick. It is learnt that both Harmanpreet Kaur and Pooja Vastrakar were in hospital on Wednesday evening. The BCCI medical team is assessing their condition to determine whether they can participate or not.
Harleen Deol may be included as the replacement for Harmanpreet Kaur if she doesn’t make it to the team. However, this may not be the case for Vastrakar, as the team already has Shikha Pandey as a seam-bowling all-rounder.
It is likely that India will instead choose to bring in left-arm spinner Radha Yadav or left-arm seamer Anjali Sarvani, who has yet to play in the competition. Radha has been economical in her three games, conceding only 6.22 runs per over and taking two wickets. She is also considered one of the best fielders in the current team.
Vastrakar, on the other hand, has been used as both a new ball and middle-overs bowler. She has yielded 2 wickets with an economy of 7.21 in 12.2 overs bowled in the 4 games she has played so far. She had already missed much of India’s build-up due to undergoing rehabilitation for a knee injury since last October. Her inclusion was already subject to fitness clearance, which she eventually received prior to the competition.
