After winning the first T20I by nine wickets against Australia, India lost the second match by six wickets. Ellyse Perry once again made the difference for the visiting team, while Phoebe Litchfield supported her well towards the fag end of the match. Courtesy of their partnership, Australia ultimately got the job done.

Meanwhile, India’s batting unit is once again under the scanner. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur is going through a rough patch while Smriti Mandhana scored a half-century in the last match but hasn’t been consistent in the last few matches. Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh looked to be in good form but neither could take the team to the next level.

Titas Sadhu and Renuka Singh Thakur looked good with the ball, as the pacers were economical but didn’t look threatening. The spinners will have to pull up their socks as the surface at the DY Patil Sports Academy will support them.

When it comes to the Alyssa Healy-led side, Kim Garth was sensational in the last match, as she was also adjudged as Player of the Match. The spinner picked up two important wickets of Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues, which ruined India’s momentum.

On the other hand, Healy had a terrible India tour so far as she will look to improve in the final T20I of the series. Overall, both teams look solid on the paper, as a thriller game is expected on January 9.

IND-W vs AUS-W Predicted Playing XIs:

India Women:

Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar, Shreyanka Patil, Renuka Thakur Singh, Titas Sadhu

Australia Women:

Alyssa Healy (wk/c), Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Phoebe Litchfield, Grace Harris, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt