India’s decision to shift their training base to Sharjah Cricket Stadium two days before their make-or-break final group game against Australia raised eyebrows but was not entirely unexpected. The team, having witnessed Australia’s success in Sharjah, sought to acclimatize to the conditions.
Curiously, despite hosting three group matches, England and Australia were not allocated training sessions at Sharjah. However, Australia’s victories over Sri Lanka and New Zealand on this pitch demonstrated their adaptability.
To gain a better understanding of the Sharjah pitch, India made the 30km journey east instead of the usual 20-minute drive west to the ICC Academy in Dubai. They also invited the Sharjah Cricket Academy’s U-16 and U-19 boys for intense three-hour training sessions.
India’s skipper, Harmanpreet Kaur, expressed her team’s positive impressions of the Sharjah pitch: “When we watched [the Sharjah matches] on TV, it looked like the ball was gripping more. But, when we practiced batting here yesterday, it didn’t look like that. Everyone liked it, since the ball was coming on to the bat nicely.”
Meanwhile, Australia faces its own challenges with injuries to captain Alyssa Healy and Tayla Vlaeminck. Both players underwent scans on Saturday, but their availability for the match remains uncertain.
India empathizes with Australia’s situation, having experienced similar injury concerns before their match against Sri Lanka. Harmanpreet Kaur and Pooja Vastrakar, both nursing injuries, participated in extended warm-up drills separately.
Vastrakar’s return to full fitness may not guarantee her immediate inclusion in the playing XI. India might opt for a spin-heavy approach given Sharjah’s reputation for favoring spinners. In five night games here, spinners have claimed 45 wickets compared to 22 by pace bowlers.
The India-Australia rivalry has been intense in previous World Cups, with India emerging victorious in both 2018 and 2020. Australia, however, has maintained its dominance, winning the title in Antigua.
The anticipation for this match is high, with tickets for the near 15,000-capacity Sharjah Cricket Stadium selling out days in advance.
Key Points:
- India’s decision to train in Sharjah was influenced by Australia’s success on the pitch.
- Both India and Australia face injury concerns.
- Sharjah’s pitch is expected to favor spinners.
- The match is highly anticipated, with tickets selling out quickly.
Match Details:
- When: Sunday, October 13 at 6 PM Local | 7:30 PM IST
- Where: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Qualification Scenarios:
- India can qualify automatically with a convincing win over Australia.
- If India wins by a smaller margin, they need New Zealand to lose by a specific margin to secure their place.
- A defeat could still see India qualify depending on New Zealand’s result.
Team News:
- India has a full squad available for selection.
- Australia’s team is uncertain due to injuries.
