As the Indian women’s cricket team prepared for its journey to the T20 World Cup in Dubai, the mood was buoyant and optimistic, much in part due to the steady leadership of captain Harmanpreet Kaur. “This is our best team ever at a T20 World Cup,” Kaur declared, laying a strong foundation of confidence as the squad looked to secure the elusive World Cup silverware. This statement is not just captainly rhetoric—India’s team is fortified by stability and consistency, with a significant number of players being retained from the 2023 World Cup squad.
Of the current lineup, 10 players have been preserved from the previous tournament. Additionally, the team has bolstered its ranks with top performers from the Women’s Premier League, enhancing both batting depth and bowling diversity. Moreover, a trio of players has been reinvigorated, riding a wave of confidence due to their performances in the league, marking a commendable comeback trajectory.
During this World Cup cycle, powerhouse teams like Australia and England remained formidable adversaries, but India met them head-on thrice each, emerging victorious in comprehensive battles. The year had its hiccups, notably a botched chase of 190 against South Africa in the cauldron of Chennai and a surprising defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final, where Chamari Athapaththu’s inspired leadership turned the tables. These experiences, however, have only reinforced the team’s resolve. Various measures, such as working with a professional sports psychologist and undergoing multiple skill camps since coach Amol Muzumdar’s inception, have been employed to better handle pressure, especially given their past record of faltering at knockouts.
The logistical shift of the World Cup from Bangladesh to the UAE brought its challenges. Despite this, India’s spin-heavy attack promises to be pivotal, complemented by a stellar top-six batting lineup. The openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma are in stellar form, while Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur reinforce the middle order with significant half-centuries in recent warm-up matches. India has now firmly identified their crucial no.3 position, a slot previously filled through much experimentation over the past months.
. Backed by a wealth of all-rounders supporting finishers like Richa Ghosh and Pooja Vastrakar, India appears well-prepared in their quest for the title.
India’s journey is also marked by a growing confidence seen in their recent performances, showcasing a form guide with four wins out of their last five T20I matches. As they step onto the global stage, the attention remains riveted on their squad, with players such as:
– Harmanpreet Kaur (C)
– Smriti Mandhana (VC)
– Shafali Verma
– Deepti Sharma
– Jemimah Rodrigues
– Richa Ghosh (wk)
– Yastika Bhatia (wk)
– Pooja Vastrakar
– Arundhati Reddy
– Renuka Singh Thakur
– Dayalan Hemalatha
– Asha Sobhana
– Radha Yadav
– Shreyanka Patil
– Sajana Sajeevan
In addition, India has wisely arranged traveling reserves, a layer of strategy ensuring readiness for any exigency during the tournament. These reserves include Uma Chetry (wk), Tanuja Kanwar, and Saima Thakor, with non-traveling reserves Raghvi Bist and Priya Mishra.
One player who commands attention is Shreyanka Patil. Standing apart from India’s coterie of off-spinning all-rounders, Patil’s quicker style has become her hallmark instead of curbing her flair. Her prowess was evident when she overcame a finger fracture to steer RCB to victory in WPL 2024, clinching the Purple Cap for 13 scalps and earning the recognition of Emerging Player for the Season. Previously, her ample talents were on display during the Women’s CPL 2023, where she emerged as the leading wicket-taker. Patil’s ability to deliver in all three phases of the game, combined with her hard-hitting lower-order presence and agility, marks her as a pivotal figure in India’s campaign.
However, amidst India’s promise, the shadow of past defeats lingers, especially in clashes against Australia. Historically, the Aussies have dashed India’s dreams at previous T20 World Cups and during the inaugural CWG Gold event. Given their placement in the ‘group of death’, India’s historical foes will once again pose a significant challenge.
In their tournament schedule, India will first contend face-to-face with New Zealand on October 4 in Dubai and will sequentially take on Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and ultimately, Australia on October 13 in Sharjah. With their eyes set firmly on the World Cup trophy, India embraces the complex road ahead, determined to overturn past narratives and forge a path to global cricketing glory.