Women's T20 World Cup: India opt to bat vs Australia in must-win clash, make 1 big change in Playing XI

India women won the toss and invited Australia women to bowl first in their do-or-die Women's T20 World Cup 2026 clash on June 28, which will decide their semifinal fate. India made one change to their playing XI and brough in Kranti Gaud in place of Nandni Sharma.

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What did the captains say at the toss?

Winning the toss, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur elected to bat first, emphasizing the critical nature of the match for her team and their intention to play with a free, unrestricted mindset. She announced a single adjustment to the playing eleven, with Kranti returning to the squad in place of Nandni. Kaur noted that the conditions and pitch characteristics are well-suited to Kranti's style of play, adding that the team is approaching the match with a fresh perspective and a focus on enjoying the game.

On the other side, Australian captain Sophie Molineux revealed that she would have chosen to bowl first regardless of the toss outcome. She also shared a key lineup change for her squad, noting that Phoebe Litchfield has returned to the side while Alana King sits out. Molineux explained that the strategic decision to alter the lineup was based purely on the prevailing pitch conditions and specific tactical matchups against the opposition.

India Women's Playing XI:

Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh(w), Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Shree Charani, Renuka Singh Thakur, Kranti Gaud

Australia Women's Playing XI:

Beth Mooney(w), Georgia Voll, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Sophie Molineux(c), Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton