In a hard-fought battle, the Indian women’s cricket team faced a setback in the second T20I against Australia, with Deepti Sharma’s exceptional all-round performance unable to secure victory. Australia clinched a six-wicket win, leveling the three-match series at the DY Patil Stadium on Sunday.
Deepti Sharma played a crucial role, contributing with both bat and ball. Despite India’s frontline batters struggling to convert starts, Deepti’s vital knock of 31 helped set a total of 130/8. She continued her impact with the ball, delivering an impressive spell of 4-0-22-2. However, Australia proved too strong, successfully chasing down the target.
As the match neared its conclusion, a significant moment arose on social media. Former India men’s cricket team star Dodda Ganesh’s post regarding India captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s post-match comments went viral. Ganesh criticized Kaur for what he perceived as throwing a 19-year-old player under the bus, referring to Shreyanka Patil.
Kaur’s post-match statement was quoted in a post, saying, “In the 19th over, if Shreyanka was on target, it would have made a huge difference for us.” Ganesh expressed his disapproval, stating, “Throwing a 19yo kid under the bus is not done #INDvAUS.”
Despite the individual performances and efforts, Australia dominated the match, with Phoebe Litchfield’s crucial knocks in the penultimate over dashing India’s hopes. Playing her 300th international game, Ellyse Perry’s fine innings of 34 not out sealed Australia’s victory with a six.
In the first innings, India struggled to capitalize on promising starts, resulting in a below-par total. Batters like Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, and Jemimah Rodrigues could not convert their starts into substantial scores. Deepti Sharma, however, fought valiantly, pushing the team’s total as wickets fell steadily.
Australia’s Kim Garth played a pivotal role in early setbacks for India, trapping Shafali Verma and dismissing an on-song Jemimah Rodrigues. Despite Mandhana’s attractive strokes, she couldn’t prevent her dismissal, contributing to India’s challenging situation.
India’s skipper Harmanpreet Kaur continued her struggle with the bat, perishing to her signature shot, the sweep. Richa Ghosh, after smashing a massive six, fell victim to a slower delivery from Georgia Wareham.
A key moment occurred when Ghosh, struck on the pads, survived an appeal on the field. However, a successful DRS appeal by Australia overturned the decision, leading to her dismissal. Wareham continued her fine spell, claiming Pooja Vastrakar for her second scalp.
The second T20I showcased the challenges faced by the Indian women’s cricket team, emphasizing the need for consistent performances from key players. While Deepti Sharma’s commendable efforts stood out, Australia’s dominance in key moments secured their victory.
The series decider is scheduled for Tuesday at the same venue, offering India an opportunity to bounce back and claim the series. As the teams prepare for the final clash, the focus will be on strategic decisions, individual performances, and the collective effort needed to secure victory in this closely contested T20 series.
