This story is from February 23, 2023
Having put up a patchy performance in the Women's T20 World Cup thus far, India will have to lift their game drastically against nemesis Australia in the first semifinal on Thursday.
India, who have been among the top teams over the last five years but unable to win a major trophy, have expectedly made the semifinals of another ICC event.
Defending champions Australia have won nine of the pair's last 10 meetings with the other game ending in a tie.
Australia beat India in the previous T20 World Cup final at home and more recently at Commonwealth Games gold medal match in Birmingham last year.
Though the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side won three of its four games in the group stage, not one performance could be called convincing including the game against Ireland. Their sole loss came against England.
Considering the way India have played so far, one can only hope that somehow they are able to fix all their issues for the big game, whether it is the inconsistent top-order, the inability to hit sixes barring Richa Ghosh or the high dot ball percentage.
Opener Shafali Verma made her international debut more than three years ago and though still a teenager, she has not been able to learn from her mistakes, mainly her inability to rotate the strike and her susceptibility against the short ball.
In the bowling department, pacer Renuka Thakur has been India's best bowler in the event with seven wickets so far, including a five for 15 against England.
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