T20 World Cup: Harmanpreet advises India to play with 'strong mind' vs Australia

Women's T20 World Cup 2024: Harmanpreet Kaur said that India need to go out there and enjoy the game when they face Australia in the all-important clash on Sunday at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

In Short

• Harmanpreet Kaur talked about the importance of India’s last group game
• India will face Australia in Sharjah on October 13
• India are placed second in Group A with a net run rate of +0.576

Harmanpreet Kaur said that India would need to take the field with a ‘strong mind’ when they lock horns with Australia in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match on Sunday at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Having beaten Sri Lanka and Pakistan, India have recovered after their initial 58-run defeat to Sophie Devine’s New Zealand, but they are some distance from qualifying for the semis.

India don’t have a great record against Australia, having won only seven T20Is against Australia out of 34 matches. Harmanpreet, who scored the fastest fifty by an Indian in the history of the tournament during the match against Sri Lanka, said that her team needs to go out there and enjoy themselves instead of taking pressure.

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“Well, it's a very important game for us and definitely you need a strong mind to play this game because it's a last league game,” Harmanpreet said in the pre-match press conference.

“(There are a) Lot of things we have to keep in mind and play and, definitely, going there you need a strong mindset and at the same time we just want to go there and play freely and enjoy our game because end of the day when you're enjoying, you're not doing things accordingly and you can always get the results and at the same time I think we just need to go there and enjoy our cricket.”

“I know it's an important game, just keeping yourself in the present and seeing what is required for the team and playing accordingly, I think that's more important,” Harmanpreet said.

Harmanpreet also confirmed that Pooja Vastrakar and the other players of the Indian team are fit to take the field against the defending champions.

“Yes, all the team members are fit for tomorrow's match. Let's see what is best for the team and how we will play,” Harmanpreet added.

India are placed second in the table with four points and a net run rate of +0.576 thanks to wins in two games. Australia, on the other hand, are placed atop the table with a net run rate of +2.786.