India confront multifold challenge against slippery Sri Lanka

The criticism around India's 'in-form' batting flunking an above-par chase of 160 against New Zealand, and then dragging a straightforward one against Pakistan to the penultimate over doesn't amuse Chamari Athapaththu. She knows Sri Lanka's top-order hasn't lived up to the expectations either, and are equally vulnerable to India's top-drawer bowling attack.

With defeats in both games in Sharjah thus far, their road to the T20 World Cup 2024 semis isn't going to get any easier in the second half of the group stages. But the "sun comes up regardless every morning", and when it does so on Wednesday (October 9) in Dubai, Sri Lanka will take the field knowing their perennial underdogs tag will act as a great liberator in their Group A clash against India. That's the same mindset Athapththu & Co. adopted in the Asia Cup final in July to come out winners in a record chase and etch their name in history.

Their hegemony in Asian cricket famously and thoroughly challenged at Dambulla, Harmanpreet & Co. would be bent on merciless revenge in what is now a must-win game for India. As they look to resuscitate their bid for a top-two finish, not only do they need all available points on offer but also a significant boost to their net run-rate to keep the threat from Pakistan and New Zealand at bay. To that end, their experience of already having played in Dubai will come handy as opposed to Sri Lanka, who will be making their World Cup debut at the venue.

More importantly, India have been bolstered by the full recovery of their captain from a neck sprain ahead of the key clash meaning they can have whole squad of 15 to pick from should Pooja Vastrakar, who trained and bowled in match-eve, pass her fitness test as well. Trust India to leave no stone unturned after being caught off-guard against New Zealand that has already caused a significant NRR dent.

India lead 19-5 (1 no-result) in their 25-match T20I history against Sri Lanka. But the last of those wins for Sri Lanka has added so much context to what cannot be considered a lop-sided rivalry anymore. Athapaththu & Co, would be keen on conjuring the same magic once more as they attempt to live up to the billing of reigning Asian Cup champions, or at least cause some anarchic chaos in the group before making their exit that seems inevitable after two big defeats upfront.

When: October 9 at 6 PM Local | 7:30 PM IST

Where: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

What to expect: New Zealand are the only team to win a game in Dubai after batting first. South Africa, meanwhile, are the only team to have opted to field first.

Team News

For India, a select group of batters came out to practice on Monday, on what was otherwise a rest day. Despite Mandhana mentioning Harmanpreet has recovered well from a neck sprain, the captain was missing from India's match-eve nets. Vastrakar, who missed the Pakistan game due to a niggle, was back at it and is said to be assessed by the medical team on the morning of the game for a final call.

Probable XI:Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur/Yastika Bhatia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, S Sajana/Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, Renuka Thakur

Sri Lanka had been allotted back-to-back afternoon training slots at the ICC academy ahead of their first game in the city, and a full-strength team turned up for both. They swapped their young left-arm spinner with an experienced one in Inoka Ranaweera for the Australia match, and may likely retain her in the side for the game against India as well.

Probable XI:Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu (C), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Hasini Perera, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Sugandika Kumari, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Udeshika Prabodhani, Inoka Ranaweera

Did you know?

-Harshitha Samarawickrama is seven runs away from reaching the 1500 mark.

- Shafali Verma needs 18 to make it to the 2000-run club in the shortest format. She'll become the fifth Indian to do so.

- Renuka Thakur is set to play her 50th T20I.

What they said:

"I know that my failure has a huge effect on the team. So, I think as the most senior player and the captain, I want to give that [solid platform] to my team and for the country. I think there are a lot of people in Sri Lanka who want me [to] play in my best form. I like that pressure and that challenge. I think I can do something big for my team and my country [at the top of the order], and my fellow team members will also help me there. We have nothing to lose, we have to get things done. There is pressure [but] we have to be able to handle it." - Sri Lanka's superstar captain Chamari Athapaththu knows the value of her wicket

"Except the New Zealand match, we haven't seen any team go over 140 in the tournament. [About] 135-140 - be it a day game or a night game. That says a lot about the conditions." - India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana on if the conditions have differed in a day game versus night