“This is our best team ever at a T20 World Cup,” proclaimed Harmanpreet Kaur, the stalwart captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, as they geared up for their Dubai journey. With this assertion, Harmanpreet underscored the promise held by a team exhibiting a remarkable level of stability. India’s selection features ten players retained from the 2023 World Cup squad, bolstered by standout performers from the Women’s Premier League who bring depth and variety to both the batting lineup and the bowling attack. Furthermore, the team welcomes back three players making their comeback via the league, a testament to the renewed vigor coursing through the squad.
In this tournament cycle, traditional powerhouses Australia and England have consistently been the teams to conquer. However, India can take pride in their victories over both nations, besting each team in three separate encounters. That said, the journey has not been without hurdles. Notable challenges faced this year include a stumbling chase of 190 runs against South Africa in Chennai and a surprising loss in the Asia Cup final to Sri Lanka, led by an inspired Chamari Athapaththu. Taking these experiences in stride, the team has focused on handling pressure situations more adeptly, especially given the haunting memory of past knockout stage defeats. Under the guidance of a professional sports psychologist and the rigors of multiple skills camp sessions since Amol Muzumdar’s appointment, the squad is better prepared mentally and physically.
Despite the relocation of the World Cup from Bangladesh to the UAE, India’s spin-heavy bowling attack is anticipated to serve them well on the pitches of the Emirates. Their batting lineup, touted as ‘top-of-the-class top-six,’ adds to their strengths. Key players like openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma have shown impressive forms. Middle-order stalwarts Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur have notched up half-centuries in both official warm-up matches and unofficial intra-squad games in recent weeks. Solidifying the troublesome No.
.3 position with a consistent choice—an area previously marked by experimentation over the past half-year—helps anchor the batting order. In addition, a multitude of all-rounders complementing dynamic finishers, such as Richa Ghosh and Pooja Vastrakar, make India well-rounded contenders for the coveted silverware.
With a recent form guide showing four wins from their last five T20 internationals, confidence is high within the camp. India’s squad for this prestigious tournament is captained by Harmanpreet Kaur and includes vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and a skilled mix of other talented cricketers. Several players travel as reserves, ready to answer the call should injuries arise, while a contingent remains as non-traveling backups.
Among the stars to watch, Shreyanka Patil stands out, setting herself apart from other off-spinning all-rounders with her brisk bowling pace, which she has chosen to make her unique selling proposition. Patil’s comeback tale is one of grit and determination. After sustaining a finger fracture during the Women’s Premier League 2024, she recovered in time to lead RCB to a historic victory, claiming a remarkable 4/12 figure in the final. Her season’s haul of 13 wickets in just eight matches earned her the Purple Cap and the accolade of Emerging Player of the Season, subsequently securing her a debut with the national team. Her ability to bowl across all game phases, coupled with her aggressive lower-order batting and stellar fielding, make Patil an asset and a key player to keep an eye on.
A marquee matchup undoubtedly awaits as India, regarded as one of the tournament favorites, braces itself for a face-off against Australia—a team notorious for having dashed India’s T20 World Cup aspirations in the previous two editions and thwarted their pursuit of the inaugural Commonwealth Games Gold. This ‘group of death’ encounter, staged in Sharjah at the end of the group phase, adds unpredictable drama with India facing Australia, who would already be familiar with the local conditions, having played two prior matches at the venue.
As India embarks on its World Cup campaign, they seek to improve upon their 2023 performance where they finished as losing semi-finalists. The group phase schedule sees them take on New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the crucial encounter against Australia. Each match promises to be a step towards realizing their long-cherished ambition of securing that elusive T20 World Cup glory.