India Women’s Cricket team faces Kiwi challenge as T20 World Cup campaign begins

India will start their hunt for a maiden ICC title against New Zealand in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 on Friday. With spin-friendly pitches expected in Dubai, captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her team need to strike the right balance to ensure a strong performance. India has historically had a poor head-to-head record against New Zealand, with only 4 wins in 13 matches, but will be aiming to improve that tally when they face off against the Kiwis.

Form Under the Scanner

The Indian team’s batting form has raised some concerns. In the two warm-up games prior to the tournament, the team seemed uncertain about its batting lineup. Harmanpreet Kaur moved to the number three spot from her usual number one position but struggled to make an impact. Meanwhile, Yastika Bhatia was given different roles across both warm-up matches, signaling uncertainty in the middle order. The team’s top three batters, Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and Harmanpreet herself, are yet to showcase their full potential. Smriti Mandhana is considered one of the best T20 players, but her opening partner Shafali Verma has had a streaky record, averaging just 25 in 81 T20 matches. In the warm-up games, Shafali managed to score only 7 runs.

Harmanpreet’s recent form has also been a worry. The Indian captain has not been able to consistently maintain a high strike rate over the last few years and failed to attract a bid in two T20 leagues this year, adding to concerns about her current standing as a player.

Changes in the Batting Order

The decision to promote Harmanpreet to the number three spot is being questioned. The change wasn’t made during the Women’s Asia Cup, and some believe it would have been better to test the strategy then. Furthermore, Yastika Bhatia, who recovered from an injury, was not reinstated to her preferred position at number three. Dayalan Hemalatha, who was tried at the spot in the Asia Cup, did not succeed. This leaves Harmanpreet’s promotion to number three a gamble, especially as India tries to find the right combination for success.

New Zealand: A Mixed Bag

New Zealand, led by Sophie Devine, is currently in a poor run of form, having not won a T20I match since March 2024. However, they have shown signs of resurgence, especially in their warm-up games where they managed a win over South Africa. The Indian team should be confident going into the match given their recent performances, but they cannot take the Kiwis lightly due to their overall head-to-head advantage.

India’s Predicted Playing XI

• Shafali Verma
• Smriti Mandhana (Vice-Captain)
• Yastika Bhatia
• Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain)
• Jemimah Rodrigues
• Richa Ghosh (Wicketkeeper)
• Deepti Sharma
• Pooja Vastrakar
• Asha Sobhana
• Radha Yadav
• Renuka Singh Thakur

India’s Women’s T20 World Cup opener against New Zealand will begin at 7 PM IST, and it remains to be seen how Harmanpreet Kaur’s team will fare in their pursuit of their first ICC title.