The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 kicks off on October 3 in the UAE and the Indian Women’s team assembles yet again for a crack at a World Cup that has proven to be elusive.
They did come perilously close in the 2020 edition but hosts Australia ruined what was a wonderful Indian run in the tournament.
Interestingly, nine players from that squad have found a spot for the 2024 edition and redemption will surely be on their minds.
The squad itself is a well balanced and an experienced one at that.
Having said that, the squad will rely heavily on a set of game changers that can turn the fortunes of the game in favour of India.
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Harmanpreet Kaur
The two runner-up World Cup medals in her kitty tell a story of what could have been for one of India’s most talented batters.
While a WT20I batting average of 28.29 may not necessarily look dangerous on paper, every bowler in world cricket knows all too well that Harmanpreet Kaur can change the course of the game with one mighty swing of her willow.
The Indian skipper continues to be the backbone of the middle-order and her big hitting is integral the team’s cause, whether it is setting a target or chasing one.
And at 35-years of age, this could perhaps be her final shot at T20 World Cup glory and if she is indeed able to deliver the goods for India, she will forever be etched in the history books of Indian cricket.
Smriti Mandhana
At the top of the order, there are few in world cricket that are as stylish with the willow as Smriti Mandhana.
Blessed with the gift of timing, Mandhana is just as elegant with the drive through the covers as she is with a cross-batted heave over mid-wicket.
With 26 fifties to her credit in 141 WT20Is, she has a wealth of experience behind her.
And like always, India will turn to Mandhana to shepherd the top order, for if the squad is to mount yet another challenge in T20 World Cup, the southpaw’s willow will have to fire yet again.
Shefali Verma
The big hitting prodigy from Rohtak put up a commendable show in the 2020 T20 World Cup with two player of the match performances that saw her being picked as the 12th woman in the ICC team of the tournament for that edition.
Verma is perhaps the most potent ally to the reliable Mandhana at the top of the order for India.
With an ability to take any attack to the sword, Verma has tools to get India off to a flier.
With the tracks in the UAE expected to be slow, Verma will look to do what she does best, throw her bat around and attack from the word go.
Pooja Vastrakar
Seam-bowling all-rounders are a rarity in women’s cricket and Pooja Vastrakar is a gift for Indian cricket in that capacity.
With 57 wickets and a batting strike rate of 113.71 in WT20Is, Vastrakar’s value to the squad is immense.
On the batter-friendly tracks of the UAE, her ability to deliver slower balls and complete her spells will be vital.
Add to that her, batting prowess lower down the order and Vastrakar could prove to be a game changer for India at crucial junctures of the tournament.
Renuka Thakur
The speedster from Shimla burst onto the international scene in December last year and has since cemented her place in the India squad.
Her ability to move the ball both ways and hit a steady line-and-length make her a dangerous opening bowler.
And she has displayed this in ample capacity in the 47 WT20Is that she has featured in so far enroute to picking up 50-wickets.
With the ball in hand, India will turn to Thakur to deliver an early breakthrough and then expose the opposition middle order to the guile of Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav.