India and Australia will square off in the 18th match of the ICC Women's T20I World Cup 2024 on Sunday, October 13, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. This is a must-win game for India to stay alive in the tournament on their own terms. A defeat will leave them at the mercy of NRR and the result of the Pakistan vs New Zealand clash.
While there will be some permutations and combinations involved in case India win, Harmanpreet Kaur and the company will focus on getting a positive result before worrying about the winning margin.
Australia haven't put a foot wrong in this tournament so far, with three wins in three matches. However, their captain Alyssa Healy and seamer Tayla Vlaeminck sustained injuries during their win against Pakistan. With Tahlia McGrath said to take over as captain, they'll want to make it four out of four and top the Group A.
On that note, let's look at the top three Dream11 differentials for this match.
#3 Alana King (BOWL) (AUS)
Australian leg-spinner Alana King could get her first look-in in this tournament in place of the injured Tayla Vlaeminck. While Darcie Brown started the tournament in the playing XI, Alana would be a solid addition since the wicket in Sharjah assists spinners.
The 28-year-old has picked up 21 wickets in 22 T20Is, averaging a strong 19.52. Having a spinner on this Sharjah surface is a great option, and given Australia's high-quality bowling and fielding, the pressure will certainly be on the Indian batters, increasing the chances for wicket-taking.
Therefore, Alana King is a quality Dream11 differential punt.
#2 Shreyanka Patil (BOWL) (IND)
Shreyanka Patil has been India's most economical bowler in the ongoing tournament, with three wickets in as many games at a miserly economy rate of only 4.72. However, owing to Arundhati Reddy and Renuka Singh's success, Shreyanka has been overlooked as a Dream11 pick, but it presents a great opportunity for her backers.
On what should be a tricky wicket to bat on, Shreyanka's accurate and tight bowling could cause problems for the Australian batters. Due to their batting depth, they tend to play with more freedom, and as a result, could present opportunities to India to strike with the ball.
She's also likely to walk out at No. 8 for India if needed and contribute a few handy runs. She's definitely a Dream11 differential that merits consideration.
#1 Phoebe Litchfield (BAT) (AUS)
Phoebe Litchfield is most likely to fill replace Alyssa Healy in the XI and open the innings alongside Beth Mooney. The southpaw's preferred batting position is at the top of the innings, and she's likely to relish this opportunity to take the attack to the Indian bowlers.
In four games against India, the 21-year-old has smashed 95 runs, averaging 47.5 at a strike rate of 143.9. Having not had much of an opportunity to showcase her batting skills in this tournament, Litchfield will be raring to go come Sunday night.
She could be a powerful Dream11 pick for your teams.
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