The Indian ‘Women in Blue’ stand on the cusp of making history! They have a golden opportunity to achieve what their male counterparts couldn’t two years prior: lift the Cricket World Cup trophy on home soil. While the men’s team had a flawless run before falling to Australia in the final on a challenging Ahmedabad pitch, the women’s team must also remain cautious of the formidable defending champions from Down Under.
It’s not just the familiar home conditions that favor Harmanpreet Kaur’s squad; they are also in spectacular form, fueled by the ambition to become India’s first-ever women’s World Champions.
Their recent performances speak volumes. On their last tour, they not only defeated England but also etched a new chapter in their cricketing history. Just this month, they broke a concerning losing streak against Australia and nearly pulled off an incredible chase of 413 runs in the final One-Day International.
Leading that thrilling pursuit in New Delhi was the sensational Smriti Mandhana, who smashed her second consecutive century of the series, following an impressive fifty in the first match. If Mandhana continues her exceptional form throughout the World Cup, India can expect to post formidable totals.
A Dream Opening Partnership and Batting Powerhouse
Smriti has forged an outstanding opening partnership with Pratika Rawal, who has enjoyed a remarkable start to her international career. Rawal has significantly bolstered India’s top order. While her strike-rate of 84.95 is often discussed, it aligns well with other batters in the squad, proving her effectiveness. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, renowned for delivering her best in high-stakes matches, along with Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, and Richa Ghosh, collectively promise a consistent flow of runs.
The Indian bowling attack receives a significant boost with the return of fast bowler Renuka Singh from injury, ably supported by the promising young Kranti Goud. Furthermore, the team boasts a rich array of spin options including Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Sneh Rana, and N. Shree Charani.
Deepti Sharma’s contributions with the bat in the middle order will also be crucial. India will also be counting on the all-round capabilities of seaming all-rounder Amanjot Kaur to be at her peak.
Team India Squad:
- Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain)
- Smriti Mandhana
- Pratika Rawal
- Harleen Deol
- Jemimah Rodrigues
- Richa Ghosh
- Deepti Sharma
- Amanjot Kaur
- Radha Yadav
- Kranti Gaud
- Renuka Singh
- Arundhati Reddy
- Sneh Rana
- N. Shree Charani
- Uma Chetry
India’s World Cup Fixtures:
- September 30: vs Sri Lanka (Guwahati)
- October 5: vs Pakistan (Colombo)
- October 9: vs South Africa (Visakhapatnam)
- October 12: vs Australia (Visakhapatnam)
- October 19: vs England (Indore)
- October 23: vs New Zealand (Navi Mumbai)
- October 26: vs Bangladesh (Navi Mumbai)