Cape Town: India vice captain Smriti Mandhana is likely to miss the Women's T20 World Cup opener against Pakistan on Sunday as she is yet to recover from a finger injury she suffered during a warm-up game.
The 26-year-old opener injured her left middle finger while fielding during the warm-up match against Australia on Monday.
"She suffered an injury in the practice game. We can't say she is out of World Cup yet. But she could miss the Pakistan game," an ICC source told PTI.
The southpaw had batted at number three against Australia instead of her usual opening position. Her innings lasted only three-balls.
Mandhana had subsequently missed India's second warm-up game against Bangladesh on Wednesday.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's fitness is also a concern. She had injured her shoulder during the final of the Tri-Series against South Africa last week.
"Body is fine. It will get better with rest," Kaur had said after the final.
However, the big-hitting middle-order batter did not bat in either of India's warm-up matches.
This could be a huge blow to the Women's team who will be aiming to complete a unique double of winning both the U-19 and the senior Women's T20 World Cup 2023. Recently, Shafali Verma-led side emerged victorious in the U-19 World Cup to hand India their first ICC title in Women's cricket. With the captain of that team along with others like Richa Ghosh also part of the senior team's setup, there is a strong belief that the team could go on to do something special in this edition of the T20 World Cup.
However, if India's captain and vice-captain fail to recover in time for the high-pressure match against Pakistan, it could dampen the spirits in the dressing room.
The Harmanpreet Kaur-led team are clubbed alongside England, Pakistan, West Indies and Ireland in Group B and will begin their campaign against the Women in Green at the Newlands in Cape Town.
(With Inputs From PTI)