5 Key Indian players to watch for in 2020 ICC Women’s World T20
The Indian Women’s Cricket Team would look to showcase their
talent with lots of youngsters in the team. They have a poor record in T20
World Cups as they qualified for the semi-finals stage thrice. In the 2018 edition
held in West Indies, India reached the semi-finals in controversial thing where
experienced Mithali Raj was dropped.
India are clubbed with Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and
Bangladesh in Group A. They will start their campaign against the defending
Champions Australia on 21st February at Sydney Showground Stadium,
Sydney.
This team has a explosive top order and quality spinners. If
the middle order can fire along with the top order, then Indian team can win
the World T20 for the first time.
Here we look at the 5 key players to watch out for in 2020
ICC Women’s World T20
1.
Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana is an explosive left-handed opening batter
who can play big shots right from word go and put the opposition bowlers under
pressure. In the recently concluded Tri-series involving England and Australia,
Mandhana was the leading run getter with 216 runs from 5 matches ( 5 innings)
with best score of 66 in finals against Australia.
He has the experience of playing in the Women’s Big Bash
League which will help her to execute her strokes. The Indian team will rely on
her to take responsibility and make sure the Women in Blue post big totals.
In the 2018 edition of World Cup held in West Indies,
Mandhana scored 178 runs from 5 matches ( 5 innings) and helped India give
flying starts almost in each match. Her best score in the tournament was 83.
2.
Shafali Verma
The 15 old Shafali Verma had a great start to her as she
broke Sachin Tendulkar record of youngest player to score half-century international
cricket. She can hit the ball hard and put the opposition bowlers under immense
pressure with aggressive strokes.
Verma had a decent series in the Tri-series with 102 runs
from 5 matches ( 5 innings) with best score of 49. Verma will play an important
role to give India flying starts along with Smriti Mandhana and make sure that
India post decent enough totals to put pressure on the opposition.
Verma made her T20I debut for India in September 2019
against South Africa. In the T20I series against West Indies, she scored 158
runs from 5 matches and was awarded the player of the match.
3.
Harmanpreet Kaur
Harmanpreet Kaur will play an important role coming at
number 4. If the openers give a decent start, then Indian captain can hit big
shots which will put enough pressure on the opposition. In the recently
concluded Tri-series, Kaur struggled with 118 runs from 5 matches ( 5 innings)
with best score of 42*.
In the 2018 edition, Kaur showed her class with 183 runs
from 5 matches ( 5 innings) with best score of 103 in the opening match against
New Zealand. Her role would be important to India’s chances with both bat and
captaincy.
With the experience of 109 T20Is, Kaur would be looking to
lead India to their maiden T20 title on Australian shores.
4.
Poonam Yadav
The right arm leg spinner Poonam Yadav is one of the key
spinners for India in the middle overs. She did not feature in the recently
concluded Tri-series that involved England and Australia.
Poonam Yadav has played 62 T20I matches and taken so far 85
wickets with best figures of 4/9. In T20I cricket, she gives at an economy of
5.62 runs per over. She is a handy leg spinner who troubles opposition batters
with flight and variations which is tough to read.
In the 2018 edition of World T20, Yadav took 8 wickets from
5 matches ( 5 innings) with best figures of 3/33. She will play an integral part
for India in this editions World T20 too in picking wickets in middle overs and
make sure restrict the run flow.
5.
Rajeshwari Gayakwad
Rajeshwari Gayakwad is another experienced spinner in the
squad. She bowled brilliantly in the Tri-series as she finished the leading wicket
taker with 10 wickets from 5 matches (5 innings) with an economy rate of 6.30
runs per over.
She was expensive at times but picked important wickets. Her
contributions in the World Cup will be important as her ability to pick wickets
and stop the run flow make the life tough for opposition. She has played 23
matches (23 innings) with 30 wickets at an economy of 6.40 runs per over.
Along with Deepti Sharma and other spinners, Gayakwad will
be important to create pressure with tight bowling and stump to stump bowling.
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| Indian women's T20 squad for WC 2020 |
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