The 9th edition of the Women’s Twenty20 (T20) World Cup is set to take place from October 3rd to 20th, 2024, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Among the top contenders for the title, India has unveiled a well-balanced squad of 15 for this mega 10-team International Cricket Council (ICC) event.
The squad reflects continuity in selection, with the national selectors maintaining their faith in Dayalan Hemalatha, Sajana Sajeevan, Uma Chetry, Arundhati Reddy, Asha Sobhana, and Tanuja Kanwer. The only change from India’s recent Asia Cup campaign is the return of Yastika Bhatia to the squad. However, her participation is subject to fitness, as is the case with Shreyanka Patil, who was sidelined midway through the Asia Cup. Both players are currently on their road to recovery.
India, the seven-time Asia Cup champions, finished as runners-up in the 9th edition of the tournament in July 2024, losing to Sri Lanka. For the World Cup, Harmanpreet Kaur will continue to lead the squad of 15, with Smriti Mandhana serving as her deputy, backed by seasoned players including Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Shafali Verma, as India aims for a maiden senior women’s ICC event title.
The selectors have also named keeper-batter Uma Chetry and bowling all-rounders Tanuja Kanwer and Saima Thakor as traveling reserves. Meanwhile, the emerging duo of all-rounder Raghvi Bist and spinner Priya Mishra, who impressed during India-A’s recent tour of Australia, have been named as non-traveling reserves.
India’s squad for the 2024 World Cup:
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (WK), Yastika Bhatia* (WK), Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil* (subject to fitness), Sajana Sajeevan
Traveling reserves: Uma Chetry (WK), Tanuja Kanwer, Saima Thakor
Non-Travelling Reserves: Raghvi Bist, Priya Mishra
*Subject to fitness
In her first game on the tour of Australia, Delhi’s Priya Mishra (20), who led the wickets charts during the 2023-24 domestic season, was a standout performer for India A. She dominated the bowling charts with a remarkable five-wicket haul of 5/14 in the 3rd One Dayer and followed this with notable figures of 4/58 and 2/59 in the one-off four-day game.
Alongside Priya, Uttarakhand’s Raghvi Bist (19) also showcased her talent, continuing her impressive form from the 2023-24 domestic season. She registered scores of 2* and 15 in the T20s, and significantly contributed in the One Dayers with scores of 82, 70, and 53, though she departed for 16 and 26 in the unofficial Test.
India is likely to play a five-match T20I series in the UAE ahead of the World Cup. Additionally, the ICC has confirmed warm-up fixtures against South Africa and the West Indies and clubbed in group A, India will face Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka in their league games World Cup fixtures.
🇮🇳 India’s World Cup Squad 👊
• Travelling Reserves: Uma Chetry (wk), Tanuja Kanwer, Saima Thakor
• Non-Travelling Reserves: Raghvi Bist, Priya MishraWhat are your thoughts on this squad?#CricketTwitter #T20WorldCup2024 pic.twitter.com/XRe6sLiun2
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