India will be up against Australia in the first semifinal of the Women's T20 World Cup 2023 in a repeat of the 2020 final. However, while on that instance Australia had come out on top, this time around the Women in Blue would want to avenge that and several other heart-shattering defeats against the same opponent including the Commonwealth Games 2022 final loss.
Australia have dominated India in women's cricket and the head-to-head record suggests the same. The two teams have come against each other a total of 30 times in T20Is out of which they have on 22 occasions and lost 6. One match ended in a tie while the other was a no result.
Despite that record stacked in favour of Australia, the Meg Lanning-led side would be aware that their only defeat in the shortest format of the game in the last 22 months came against India which makes this such a mouth-watering contest. Even when we look at the Women's T20 World Cup, India have stunned the Aussies twice while facing a defeat three times which is enough indication of how close the rivalry has been even when Australia have won the knockout fixtures.
IND vs AUS Fantasy Tips:
Ahead of the match which will decide the first finalist of this marquee event, here is a look at the players which one could choose for a Cricket Fantasy 11 of this Women's T20 World Cup 2023 fixture.
Wicketkeepers:
Wicketkeepers, by virtue of bringing more than one skill into play, become very important picks in the Fantasy team. Prioritise the keeper who gets up the order usually as she is more likely to make a significant impact with the bat apart from fetching points from behind the stumps. With this pretext, Beth Mooney is a player one can't afford to bet against this fixture. She is an opener plus a stumper that makes her one of the candidates to be even considered for the captain, vice-captain position. India's Richa Ghosh should also be considered given her form but it should be noted that she bats in the middle order.
Batters:
Among the batters, the first criterion is to pick players who will get the maximum number of balls to face. Then choose the ones in form. Smriti Mandhana picks herself after her knock against Ireland and it would be hard to not pick Shafali Verma who can take the game away from the opposition in the powerplay. Australia's Meg Lanning would be the third pick. If the balance of the side allows, try fitting in Jemimah Rodrigues or Tahila McGrath both of whom have fetched more points to Fantasy players than Harmanpreet Kaur in this competition.
All-rounders:
This is perhaps the most crucial segment of Fantasy Cricket. Pack your side with as many in-form all-rounders as possible. Ellyse Perry gets the topmost priority she bats up the order plus chips in with the ball. Ashleigh Gardner is another star Australian all-rounder who can many points. Deepti Sharma should be the pick among the Indian options if there is place for just one, otherwise get a way to fit in Pooja Vastrakar as well.
Bowlers:
Renuka Singh Thakur has been the pick of the bowlers for India in this tournament and she should get a place in the Fantasy side. From Australia, Megan Schutt, Georgia Wareham have done bulk of the wicket-taking. Darcie Brown and Shikha Pandey are some of the other bowlers who can be considered for a place in the side.
IND W vs AUS W Fantasy Team For Womens T20 World Cup 2023:
Beth Mooney, Richa Ghosh (vice-captain), Smriti Mandhana, Meg Lanning, Shafali Verma, Ashleigh Gardner (captain), Deepti Sharma, Ellyse Perry, Renuka Singh Thakur, Megan Schutt, Georgia Wareham
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