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Several India and New Zealand players will miss the start of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2024-25 due to their three-match ODI series, scheduled later this month, report ESPNcricinfo. The three ODIs will be played on October 24, 27 and 29 in Ahmedabad. The two teams are expected to fly straight from the UAE following the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup.
The series was supposed to take place in July last year but was postponed due to a jam-packed calendar where the Women in Blue hosted Australia and England.
Star players Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Dayalan Hemalatha, and Yastika Bhatia will miss the first few games of the WBBL season. Similarly, White Ferns skipper Sophie Devine and star all-rounder Amelia Kerr might also miss a few games for their respective franchises.
Check out the 2024-25 WBBBL schedule here.
New Zealand and India placed sixth and fifth in women’s championship table
New Zealand and India are placed sixth and fifth, respectively, in the women’s championship table. The Kiwis have eight wins in 18 matches, while the Women in Blue have 10 victories in just 12 games.
The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side have already qualified for the 2026 Women’s ODI World Cup as hosts. The other three teams to have qualified for the tournament are defending champions Australia, England, and South Africa.
Thus, the visitors will be keen to deliver in the series as they face a tough contest with West Indies and Bangladesh in the championship points table. The hosts, alongside five top teams, will earn a direct entry to next year’s 50-over World Cup in India. Two others will gain an entry via a global qualifier, where four bottom teams from championships and as many associates will compete.
NZ played their last ODI series in India in 2015, where they bounced back from 0-1 to clinch the series 3-2. They also beat the Women in Blue 4-1 in the 2021/22 home series.
Team India won their last ODI home series against New Zealand 4-1 in 2003/04. They, however, won the away series 2-1 in 2018/19.
