Australia remain just as strong even without Alyssa Healy, says Harmanpreet ahead of must-win T20 World Cup clash | Cricket News

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has said her team will focus on its own game rather than Australia’s record when the two sides meet in what could decide India’s place in the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.India face Australia at Lord’s in their final Group A match, knowing a win will improve their chances of reaching the last four.

Speaking on JioStar, Harmanpreet said Australia remain one of the strongest teams despite the retirement of Alyssa Healy.“We recently played a T20I series against Australia on their home soil, and we performed well. That series gave us confidence. It’s not that after Alyssa Healy’s retirement, Australia have become weaker. They are still a very strong side. They have a deep pool of players and a system that keeps producing quality cricketers. One player leaving doesn’t change that,” said Kaur.Australia, led by all-rounder Sophie Molineux, have won all four of their matches so far in the tournament. Another victory against India will confirm their place in the semi-finals.Harmanpreet praised Molineux’s leadership, saying, “Sophie Molineux is a great captain too. She leads from the front and knows how to get the best out of her players. She is calm under pressure and reads the game well. She has been part of this Australian setup for a long time, so she understands the dynamics of the team. Under her leadership, they will be well prepared. But we have always played good cricket against them.“She added, “We have always given them tough competition in big tournaments. The mindset remains the same; we will give our best, work hard, and try to dominate them in every department. We know they are a strong team, but we also know we have the ability to match them.”The India captain said her team is concentrating on its own plans rather than spending time thinking about Australia’s strengths.“We know Australia have great cricketers. They have world-class players in every department. But we don’t spend too much time thinking about them. We focus on our own skills. We talk about what we need to do on the match day, our batting plans, our bowling lengths, and our fielding standards. We discuss how we can execute our skills under pressure,” she said.She concluded, “We know what Australia have achieved in the past, but that doesn’t matter when we step onto the field. It’s only about what we can do and how we can deliver to win that match. So, we keep the focus on ourselves. We talk about our strengths and how we can use them against them. That is what we will continue to do.”