'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEG/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQT/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAALoig//EACAQAAICAQMFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAxESAAQFBiEiMVH/2gAIAQEAAT8A6h5R9rsYJY4kwLK2TOy0w7geP2tJLG6K5OJYXVetf//EABwRAAEDBQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIAAQMEETGh0f/aAAgBAgEBPwCSEQpwlbJOWrdX/8QAGhEAAgIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIAAxExof/aAAgBAwEBPwBLS9rVnQA7mf/Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
India are all set to kick off their 2024 Women's T20 World Cup with a high-octane clash against New Zealand. The contest will be played out at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday, October 4.
The Women in Blue won both their warmup games by fairly convincing margins, but the fact that they used most of their 15 players didn't help give much clarity into their selection process. Head coach Amol Muzumdar provided a few suggestions at a pre-tournament press conference, but there are still a couple of decisions that are up in the air right now.
India's squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, D Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Sajeevan Sajana.
On that note, here is India's predicted playing XI for Match 4 of the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup against New Zealand.
Openers: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana
India's opening combination is fairly settled, with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana joining forces at the top of the order. The duo will want to give the side explosive starts, with batting proving difficult in the UAE in the latter stages of the innings. Shafali's form, which has been patchy at times, will be watched closely.
Middle Order: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Yastika Bhatia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma
India have settled on having their captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, at No. 3. Mazumdar indicated as much, with the team trying out a number of options before deciding to go with the out-of-form veteran. Harmanpreet hasn't set the stage alight over the last two years and desperately needs to come to the party.
Yastika Bhatia played only the first warmup game, having returned from a long-term knee issue that kept her out for around four months. While there is a chance that India might be inclined to pick an additional bowler, they might also want some beef in the batting department.
Jemimah Rodrigues has an excellent T20 record at No. 5, and although she batted one position higher in the warmups, that could be her role at the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup.
Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma will round off the middle order, as India's frontline wicket-keeper and all-rounder respectively. Both D Hemalatha and S Sajana didn't feature in the warmups, making the team's plans clear on that front.
Lower Order: Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Renuka Singh Thakur
A few of India's bowlers pick themselves. Pooja Vastrakar and Renuka Singh Thakur will likely share the new ball, while Shreyanka Patil will be used through the middle overs and at the death.
Arundhati Reddy bowled two overs in each warmup game, but India might not need a third pacer given the conditions in the UAE. They could thus pick between Asha Sobhana and Radha Yadav.
Although Asha bowled six overs in the two warmups, more than Radha's four, the left-arm spinner might just have the edge. She was the Player of the Series in Bangladesh and had an impressive Women's Premier League campaign as well. This is a pick that could go either way, though.
