"India should win this match" - Sanjay Manjrekar on IND vs SL 2024 Women's T20 World Cup clash

Sanjay Manjrekar has predicted an Indian win in their 2024 Women's T20 World Cup clash against Sri Lanka. While acknowledging that the Lankans stunned India in the Asia Cup final earlier this year, the cricketer-turned-commentator pointed out that the Women in Blue have a superior head-to-head record against their neighbors.

India will face Sri Lanka in their third Group A game in Dubai on Wednesday, October 9. Harmanpreet Kaur and company suffered a 58-run loss to New Zealand in their tournament opener but bounced back to beat Pakistan by six wickets in their second game at the same venue.

During an interaction on the Star Sports show 'Game Plan', Manjrekar was asked about the tactics India should adopt against Sri Lanka.

"I feel India should win this match. India are a good team. The top three teams in this group are India, New Zealand and Australia. Sri Lanka might have defeated India in the Asia Cup but India's track record against Sri Lanka is good," he responded.

The former India batter opined that dismissing Chamari Athapaththu early could be the key to the Women in Blue's success.

"The entire team would have gotten totally used to the Dubai pitch by then. If you can get Sri Lanka's top-order player Athapaththu out early, Sri Lanka does not have that much batting depth as well," Manjrekar reasoned.

Athapaththu smashed 61 runs off 43 deliveries in the Women's Asia Cup final against India in Dambulla in July this year. However, the left-handed opener hasn't been among the runs in the ongoing Women's T20 World Cup, aggregating a paltry nine runs across two innings.

---

"I believe that India will be more ready while playing at the same venue for the third time" - Sanjay Manjrekar

India played their first two games of the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

In the same interaction, Sanjay Manjrekar opined that familiarity with the venue would help India's cause and that they might be at the top of their game against Sri Lanka.

"They (Sri Lanka) have a good left-arm spinner with the name (Sugandika) Kumari. So she might come very early to bowl against India. However, I believe that India will be more ready while playing at the same venue for the third time. Maybe you will see India at their best in that match," he said.

Sri Lanka's clash against India will be their first game in Dubai. They played their first two games against Pakistan and Australia in Sharjah.