India Women’s vice-captain Smriti Mandhana addressed a press conference on October 8, confirming skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s availability for the must-win game against Sri Lanka on October 9.
Reflecting on Kaur’s performance in India’s recent victory over Pakistan, where she scored 29 off 24 before retiring hurt, Mandhana reassured fans, saying, “Harman is ready to play. Her presence is a huge boost for us.”
Kaur was instrumental in anchoring the innings, and her return strengthens the team, although her batting position remains flexible.
“She’s batted at 3 against New Zealand and 4 against Pakistan, so we’ll finalize her position based on the team’s needs,” Mandhana added.
Mandhana also updated on Pooja Vastrakar, who missed the Pakistan game due to fitness concerns.
“We’ll assess Pooja’s readiness on Wednesday morning to finalize our combination,” she shared, emphasizing that Vastrakar’s situation is not serious.
India Women currently stand fourth in Group A, with one win and one loss. Mandhana noted, “We’re focused on the next game; it’s crucial for our campaign.”
Group A is led by Australia, followed by New Zealand and Pakistan, with India just ahead of Sri Lanka.