India has recently announced its squad for the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup, with familiar faces dominating the lineup. Retaining a core group from the women's T20 Asia Cup, the team sees the return of 14 out of 15 players, with the exception of Uma Chetry. Notably, Yastika Bhatia's inclusion is contingent upon her fitness, as she looks to recover from a knee injury suffered earlier. Another player facing a fitness challenge is Shreyanka Patil, who sustained a fractured finger during the Asia Cup.
Bhatia, known for her prowess as a wicketkeeper-batter, showcased her skills in the WPL 2024, emerging as one of Mumbai Indians' top run-scorers. Despite her recent absence from action, she remains a promising asset for the team. While Tanuja Kanwar, who filled in for Patil during the Asia Cup, is named as a travelling reserve, Chetry and fast bowler Saima Thakor also find themselves in the reserves. Additionally, batters Raghvi Bist and legspinner Priya Mishra, who featured in India A's recent tour of Australia, have also been listed as non-travelling reserves.
Under the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur, the team is set to showcase a formidable batting lineup with the likes of Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Deepti Sharma. The bowling unit will be spearheaded by Renuka Singh and Pooja Vastrakar, with spinners Deepti, Radha Yadav, and Patil playing crucial roles.Grouped with powerhouse teams like Australia and New Zealand, as well as Pakistan and Sri Lanka, India aims to secure its first Women's T20 World Cup title.
The tournament, initially slated for Bangladesh, has been relocated to the UAE due to recent unrest in Bangladesh. Commencing in Sharjah on October 3 and culminating in Dubai on October 20, the event promises thrilling cricket action. India will kick off their campaign against New Zealand on October 4 in Dubai, followed by a clash with Pakistan on October 6 at the same venue.