Australia is keeping the decision on whether to include captain Alyssa Healy in the upcoming match under wraps until the last minute. Healy, who was in outstanding form during the Women’s World Cup before sustaining an injury, missed the last two matches. Her calf injury occurred during training after the game against Bangladesh, and she has been on the sidelines since then.
Healy played a pivotal role in Australia’s remarkable win against India in Vizag, where she played a key role in the successful chase of a record target of 331 runs. Head coach Shelley Nitschke mentioned in a pre-match press conference that the team will wait until the final moment to assess Healy’s fitness. If she shows improvement during pre-match training, she will likely participate in the semi-final against India.
Nitschke acknowledged that Australia anticipates a challenging contest, recognizing India’s strong batting lineup. India will miss Pratika Rawal due to an ankle injury, leading to the inclusion of explosive batter Shafali Verma for the semi-final. Nitschke emphasized the need for Australia to be well-prepared given India’s batting depth and the expected large crowd at the venue.
Although Australia remains undefeated in the tournament, Nitschke refrained from labeling them as favorites for the upcoming match, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of knockout games. Tahlia McGrath substituted for Healy in the last two matches, and despite concerns over her individual performance, Nitschke praised her calm leadership and the team’s response to her captaincy.
The highly anticipated India vs Australia match is scheduled to commence at 3 pm IST in Navi Mumbai, with a full house expected at the DY Patil Stadium.