The upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup has seen contrasting build-ups for the participating teams, with India gearing up to bid for its maiden ICC trophy. With the warm-up games done and dusted, the 2024 edition of Women’s T20 World Cup is set to begin in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday (October 3). A double-header in Sharjah will set things in motion — Bangladesh face Scotland in the afternoon and Pakistan meet Sri Lanka in the evening.
The 10-team Women’s T20 World Cup tournament kicks off with the group phase, as the five teams in each of the two groups vie for the two semi-final slots available per group. Group A comprises Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and Group B includes Bangladesh, England, Scotland, South Africa and West Indies. It will be interesting route to the title as we preview the Group A contenders participating in the World Cup. Before the World Cup begins, let us preview how Group A is shaping up.
India : Slow but steady to semi finals contenders
The final few grains of sand are falling in the hourglass ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, which will be played in the heat and humidity of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, India’s run-up to the biennial event has been unusually cold.
Harmanpreet Kaur will lead India’s campaign, starting under the lights on October 4 against New Zealand in Dubai. Grouped alongside the White Ferns, defending champion Australia, reigning Asia Cup champion Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, India has seen a rather quiet build-up, with no international matches for nearly two months before the showpiece event.
The national team was last in action in the T20 Asia Cup final against Chamari Athapaththu’s Sri Lanka in late July. After largely cruising through the group stage, poor fielding and struggles against spin came back to haunt India once more. The Women in Blue eventually relinquished their Asian crown to their neighbor.
India arrived at its 15-member squad after months of significant tinkering — this involved workload management, motivated rotations, and trial and error with players of promise based on current form.
One such experiment was the extended opportunity given to Dayalan Hemalatha at number 3 in the batting line-up. Despite plenty of ups and downs, the 29-year-old registered a healthy rate of 123.17, with 186 runs in eight games this year.
She struck at over 127 during the Women’s Premier League campaign with the Gujarat Giants this year, giving chief selector Neetu David, head coach Amol Muzumdar and Harmanpreet the confidence to back her in place of the injured Yastika Bhatia. Both players have been named in the squad, with a close eye on Yastika’s fitness.
Openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana have enjoyed all-format success both individually and as a pair, while Jemimah Rodrigues has come a long way from the batting slump that affected her confidence a few seasons ago. Richa Ghosh’s explosive finishing abilities have greatly eased India’s anxieties about closing out games.
India is carrying a spin-heavy bowling arsenal to the UAE. In Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Sajana Sajeevan, Asha Sobhana Joy, Tanuja Kanwer (reserve), and Shreyanka Patil, the team has versatility and effectiveness in its ranks. A nagging injury to Shreyanka’s left hand has been a worry, due to which India has been frugal while using her in matches. The Bengaluru-based allrounder and Yastika — a crucial left-hander in India’s batting plans — will push the coaching staff to err on the side of caution.
The pace group faces an interesting challenge in the Middle East. Surfaces in Dubai and Sharjah are not averse to providing swing and bounce. Pooja Vastrakar and Arundhati Reddy have evolved significantly this season, adding more pace and variations to their game.
Renuka Singh’s ability to generate movement with the new ball has been a boon, and she will hope to rediscover her 2022 Commonwealth Games rhythm as India bids for its maiden senior ICC trophy. While the individual pieces look good, will they all click in place perfectly to complete the jigsaw. Only time will tell n course of the tournament
One could argue a bat stuck in the turf quashed India’s hopes of a Final appearance at last year’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, and neither Harmanpreet Kaur nor her India teammates need any more motivation after Cape Town semi-final heartbreaks. Whilst a little rattled by their recent defeat to Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup Final, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side are still in the discussion as one of the sides to claim tournament honours.
The Women in Blue have undertaken fitness and skills-based camps in the lead-up to the tournament, indicating that they’ve strong belief in their personnel and wanted to fine-tune aspects of their game off the field ahead of the T20 World Cup. Perhaps the strongest aspect of India’s game will be their top six batters, who have shown exceptional form and can take down any bowling line-up on their day. Also not to be underestimated is their bowling line-up, with tweakers who can be handy in the UAE.
Player to look out for in India
Even in a standout middle-order, Jemimah Rodrigues has proven time and again to be the clutch player in tense situations. The quick-thinking batter is the perfect link between a sturdy top-order and an explosive lower middle-order, capable of striking useful stands that help take the innings forward in the middle overs.
While India remain mum on the mystery of their No.3 batter, Rodrigues (batting at no. 5 in recent months) will play a crucial role in and around the order. Set to play her fourth T20 World Cup at just 24, Rodrigues carries the experience of 100 T20Is into the tournament and seems perfectly placed in her career to capitalize on her immense talent.
India Women Squad : Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Yastika Bhatia, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Sajana Sajeevan.
India’s Fixtures in WT20 : v New Zealand, Dubai, 4 October , v Pakistan, Dubai, 6 October , v Sri Lanka, Dubai, 9 October , v Australia, Sharjah, 13 October
Expectations : A semi finals place on the cards for sure Indian women aim to repeat the Mens heroics in T20 format in 2024.