Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Feb 11: The finger injury suffered by India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana will prevent her from playing in the team’s opening T20 World Cup match against Pakistan in Cape Town on Sunday.
But since interim coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar has determined there is no fracture, Mandhana should be able to play in India’s next match against West Indies on February 15.
The captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, who has been given the all-clear to play, received more of his support. During the just finished tri-series against the West Indies and South Africa, Harmanpreet had developed a shoulder ache.
“Harman is fit to play. She has batted for the last two days in the nets, she is fine,” Kanitkar said at the pre-match press conference.
“Smriti has a finger injury and is still recovery, so she won’t play most-likely. It’s not a fracture and we’re hopeful she will be available from the second game onwards.”
Notably, the big-hitting middle-order batter did not bat in either of India’s warm-up matches. The ‘Women in Blue’ are clubbed alongside England, Pakistan, West Indies and Ireland in Group B
