India-Australia T20 World Cup clash: Mandhana believes gap has narrowed

By Sanjay Menon — 27 June 2026 — 3 min read

Smriti Mandhana, a key player for India, believes that the competitive gap between her team and Australia has significantly narrowed. Both teams are preparing for their upcoming clash in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. The match is scheduled to take place at Lord’s, with India needing a victory to secure a spot in the semi-finals.

Australia currently leads Group A with eight points, while India and South Africa are two points behind. India holds an advantage over South Africa due to a superior net run rate. Mandhana highlighted that the increased participation of Indian players in leagues like the Big Bash and Australian players in the WPL has contributed to this reduced gap. She noted that the experience gained from these leagues has been shared, leading to a steady improvement in India’s performance over the past five years.

Mandhana emphasised that in T20 cricket, the outcome often depends on which team performs better on the day. She also mentioned the team’s commitment to playing an aggressive style of cricket. India previously defeated Australia 2-1 in a bilateral T20 series in February, and Mandhana expressed her anticipation for renewing this rivalry, acknowledging Australia as one of the best teams globally.

Squad updates and team dynamics

Australia is set to return to full strength for the match. Captain Sophie Molineux confirmed the return of Phoebe Litchfield, who had been sidelined for three games due to injury. Litchfield reportedly trained fully and has been building up her fitness over the past week. Additionally, Beth Mooney is deemed fit to play despite dislocating her finger twice during Australia’s 113-run victory over Pakistan.

Molineux described Mooney as tough, noting her ability to continue playing despite the injury. Australia, six-time champions, are known for their competitive approach and aim to exert pressure on India, even with their semi-final spot potentially confirmed before the match. Molineux acknowledged the differing situations for the two teams, with Australia still needing to win to secure their desired group position.

The Australian captain anticipates an intense contest, highlighting that games against India are always competitive. The match is expected to draw a sellout crowd, underscoring its significance. India, on the other hand, faces a challenge in team combinations, particularly regarding all-rounders, with Deepti Sharma being a trusted option. While Radha Yadav impressed with three wickets against Bangladesh, her dropped catches have been a point of discussion.

Despite some issues with catching, the Indian team is considered strong and experienced enough to overcome these challenges. The batting lineup, featuring players like Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Jemimah Rodrigues, possesses the firepower to challenge Australia’s bowling attack. Rodrigues, in particular, regained her form against Bangladesh, helping India navigate a difficult period.

The path to the semi-finals

India’s path to the semi-finals is clear: they must win their match against Australia. The other match in the group sees South Africa play Bangladesh at the same venue. Given South Africa’s recent form, they are expected to win against Bangladesh, which would make India’s victory against Australia crucial for qualification.

Australia, with their superior Net Run Rate, is considered almost certain to reach the last four. The team has been described as the most complete side in the tournament, yet they are aware of India’s ability to provide tough competition. The match at Lord’s on Sunday will be a significant occasion for both teams.

The match between India and Australia at Lord’s is scheduled for 14:30 local time.

Source: icc-cricket.com