London, 23/2: Hours before they play the semi-final against Australia at the T20 World Cup, India have been dealt with a major selection challenge, with seam-bowling allrounder Pooja Vastrakar ruled out with an upper respiratory tract infection. Sneh Rana, one of the travelling reserves, has been approved as a replacement.
Vastrakar, along with captain Harmanpreet Kaur, had reported sick on Monday and were in the hospital briefly on Wednesday evening. The India captain has had fever for the past two days. The BCCI medical team is yet to make a call if she can take part in the semi-final.
If Harmanpreet, who has managed just 66 runs in four games so far in the tournament, is also ruled out, it could pave the way for Harleen Deol’s inclusion as a like-for-like replacement.
Vastrakar will remain with the squad but India do not have a like-for-like replacement for her. Rana bowls offspin and can bat lower down the order. Apart from Rana, India could consider bringing in left-arm seamer Anjali Sarvani, who is yet to get a game in the competition, for Vastrakar.
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