Australia captain Mitchell Marsh has made it clear that they are ready to face India in their final T20 World Cup Super 8 match on June 24.
The match will be held at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St Lucia. After a surprising loss to Afghanistan on Sunday, Marsh said that beating India is their top priority to secure a spot in the semi-finals.
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What happened in the match against Afghanistan?
Australia's five-match winning streak came to an end with a 21-run loss to Afghanistan at the Arnos Vale Ground in St Vincent on June 23. This defeat has made their upcoming match against India a must-win encounter. Marsh acknowledged that Australia was outplayed by Afghanistan and accepted responsibility for the loss.
What did Mitchell Marsh say?
The Australian captain defended his decision to bowl first against Afghanistan, despite the outcome. He said that the pitch was challenging and that Afghanistan's score was slightly higher than expected.
"It was an off-night for us in the field, and we own that. We'll be back for the next game. It wasn't an easy wicket, but both teams played on this surface. We need to win and no better team to do it against," Marsh told the broadcasters after Australia's loss.
India, with one foot already in the semi-finals, will also be looking to win this match to confirm their spot. For Australia, this game is do-or-die. Marsh’s statement sets the stage for an exciting clash between the two cricket giants.