On Friday, the Indian women’s team will embark on their quest to claim their maiden ICC T20 World Cup trophy. India’s story at World Cups in the past has been one of unfulfilled potential and missed opportunities. Their closest brush with glory came in 2020 when they made it to the final, only to be outclassed by a formidable Australian team at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Aiming to emerge from the shadows of past disappointments, India will begin with Harmanpreet Kaur leading her team onto the field at the Dubai International Stadium against New Zealand in their opening Group A match. New Zealand Women have only won one of the 13 T20Is that they have played this year and India should be the runaway favourite.
Harmanpreet, who has participated in every T20 World Cup since its inception, instills a sense of comfort and confidence to the squad. “Our expectation is clear: to bring glory to our country and to the loyal supporters who stand by us, no matter where we play. The team has a unified vision, and every individual has been empowered to prepare in a manner that will contribute to our success,” Harmanpreet said on the eve of their opener.
The squad has a core group of seasoned players who are raring to go. At the forefront of India’s batting is Smriti Mandhana, whose elegant strokeplay and aggressive mindset have made her an asset. The explosive youngster Shafali Verma brings raw power and the ability to dismantle bowling attacks. Skipper Harmanpreet, Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh are capable of turning a match on its head. D Hemalatha, who has been given many an opportunity, will be itching to prove her mettle too.
Yet, it’s not just the batters who will be pivotal. The Indian bowling attack has depth and versatility, especially the spin department. The pitch in Dubai is normally batting friendly, but there could be some help for the bowlers. While India’s three-prong pace attack of Renuka Singh, Pooja Vastrakar and Arundhati Reddy is pretty formidable, the slowness of the pitch should keep the spinners in play.
India have plenty of options in the spin department, which is led by off-spinner Deepti Sharma. With 131 wickets and an economy rate of 5.97, Deepti will be a proper threat for the Kiwi batters. She has the company of left-arm spinner Radha Yadav and the two can be handful in tandem.
Despite their recent struggles, New Zealand is a team that is known to rise to the occasion. They are led by the seasoned Sophie Devine, who knows how to thrive in high-pressure situations.
With battle-hardened campaigners like Suzie Bates and the dynamic Amelia Kerr, New Zealand boast of a well-rounded squad capable of matching India’s intensity. Their bowling attack, featuring the pace of Lea Tahuhu and the tactical acumen of Jess Kerr, will have to deal with the powerful Indian batting lineup.
Devine knows that the road ahead will be long and arduous. “When you’ve got India and Australia, as well as Sri Lanka, it’s going to be a pretty tough pool to progress. But we certainly love our chances coming up against those sorts of teams. There hasn’t been too much cricket in the UAE, so it will be a real challenge for all the teams, but we are excited to play there,” said Devine.
