The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) commenced the ’23-24 domestic season for the senior women’s teams on October 19, 2023, with the Senior Women’s Twenty20 (T20) Trophy. The standout performers from this tournament are now being drafted into Zonal teams for the upcoming Senior Women’s Interzonal T20 Trophy.
The league matches of the Interzonal are set to unfold in Lucknow from November 24 to December 2, with the final slated for December 4. Leading the North Zone squad is the Under-19 World Cup-winning captain, Shafali Verma. The 15-member squad comprises not only established India players but also promising uncapped talents.
North Zone squad for Inter-Zonal Women’s T20 Tournament –
Shafali Verma (C), Shweta Sehrawat, Parushi Prabhakar, Harleen Deol (VC), Sushma Verma (WK), Tanya Bhatia (WK), Amanjot Kaur, Kashvi Gautam, Neelam Bisht, Mannat Kashyap, Parunika Sisodia, Amandeep Kaur, Chitra Singh Jamwal, Suman Gulia, Madhu Dhama
Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, and Amanjot Kaur bring their seasoned skills from the senior women’s circuit, while the Interzonal series offers a crucial chance for wicket-keeper batters Sushma Verma and Taniya Bhatia to showcase their abilities, especially considering their earlier comeback outings fell short of expectations.
Heading into the Zonals, both keeper-batters carry positive momentum from their recent performances in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy. Taniya showcased her prowess, accumulating 147 runs at a striking rate of 132.43 in 8 matches, with an impressive best of 71*. Meanwhile, Sushma delivered a stellar performance, amassing 247 runs in 6 games, including a remarkable high of 114*.
The squad boasts a wealth of emerging talent, with promising players like Shweta Sehrawat, Kashvi Gautam, Parunika Sisodia, Amandeep Kaur, and Mannat Kashyap adding depth and potential to the team.
At just 20 years old, Kashvi Gautam emerges as a highly promising all-rounder, entrusted with leadership roles in both district and domestic games. In the recently concluded T20 series, her best with the bat was an unbeaten 32*, and led Chandigarh’s bowling attack with a noteworthy tally of 12 wickets from 7 games. Her teammate and top-scorer, Parushi Prabhakar, following an outstanding 220-run season, has also received the nod into the Zonal squad.
Teammates from the triumphant U-19 World Cup women’s team, Shweta Sehrawat and Mannat Kashyap, have continued to excel. Shweta emerged as the top scorer for Delhi, amassing 229 runs in 6 games, while Mannat Kashyap stood out with the second-highest number of wickets (9) for Punjab. Their performances have further solidified their reputation.
Punjab’s Neelam Bisht emerged as the leading wicket-taker with 10 scalps in this T20 season, carrying forward her impressive form from district cricket. Meanwhile, Delhi’s dynamic duo, Parunika Sisodia and Madhu Dhama, who signed off the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy with 10 and 9 wickets respectively, have secured spots in the final 15.
The sole representative from Jammu & Kashmir in the Zonal squad, Chitra Singh Jamwal, proves to be an exciting all-rounder. Finishing as both the leading run-scorer and wicket-taker for her side, she has truly made a name for herself. Chitra accumulated 144 runs from 6 innings and bagged an impressive 9 wickets in 5 outings. She’ll be one to watch out for if trusted with a place in the XI.
With the exception of Punjab, not many teams from the Zone found much success in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy. Punjab’s impressive unbeaten 7-win streak was halted in the Pre-Quarter Final by Uttarakhand, who subsequently advanced to the Final but lost to eventual champions Mumbai. The current squad of 15 is brimming with excitement, promising a healthy competition as players strive to secure a spot in the final XI and maintain their positions.
