The UAE’s pitch conditions and heat are likely to favor India’s spin-heavy squad in the Women’s T20 World Cup. A strong performance from India’s senior players will be essential as they face New Zealand in their opening Group A match on Friday, aiming for a solid start and hoping to overcome past disappointments. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, likely playing her last T20 World Cup, has experienced several near-misses, including India’s loss to Australia in the 2020 final in Melbourne.
As usual, India boasts a highly talented squad, rivaled only by Australia in terms of depth and quality. However, while Australia has secured six titles, India still lacks a major tournament win.
India’s challenge in global events seems to stem from mental lapses in crucial moments. To address this, the team held a preparatory camp at the National Cricket Academy, which included counseling sessions. But in high-stakes tournaments, success hinges on executing strategies perfectly on the day.
Facing New Zealand, a resilient but less heralded team compared to Australia, will be a good test for India both tactically and mentally. A win could set the tone for the rest of the group stage, where they will also face tough opponents like Australia, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.
For a strong tournament run, India will need key contributions from their top players — Harmanpreet, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, and Deepti Sharma. Mandhana and Shafali have been in good form, especially in the Asia Cup, though Harmanpreet and Shafali’s consistency is crucial for India’s batting lineup.
The pitches in the UAE, affected by a heat wave, may not yield many runs as the tournament progresses, but this could play to India’s advantage in the bowling department, especially with their strong spin attack. India’s squad includes only three pacers — Renuka Singh, Pooja Vastrakar, and Arundhati Reddy — and they are likely to play just two, relying heavily on their spinners.
India’s spin department features a diverse range of bowlers, led by off-spinners Deepti Sharma and Shreyanka Patil, leg-spinner Asha Shobhana, and left-arm spinner Radha Yadav.
On the other hand, New Zealand’s squad is a mix of experience and youth. Key players include captain Sophie Devine, all-rounder Suzie Bates, and veteran pacers Lea Tahuhu and Leigh Kasperek. Young all-rounder Amelia Kerr adds further strength to the team. However, beyond these players, New Zealand’s lack of depth may be a weakness.
India squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Yastika Bhatia (subject to fitness), Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Asha Shobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil (subject to fitness), Sajana Sajeevan. Reserves: Uma Chetry (wk), Tanuja Kanwer, Saima Thakor.
New Zealand squad: Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu.
