India women take on New Zealand as Sophie Devine won the toss and opted to bat first in their Women's T20 World Cup 2024 opening match at the Dubai International stadium on October 4. While India won both their warm-up matches, New Zealand won one and lost the other one.
What did the captains say?
New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine, after winning the toss, said:
"We're going to bat first. I've been really happy about the way the team's gone about it's business. Results haven't gone our way but we're always learning. Looking to put our best foot forward in this one. It's going to be slower, there's still runs in it. Still opportunity to be attacking."
Meanwhile, India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, after the toss, said:
"We just want to go out there and play good cricket. All the players back themselves. It's the best team and the best team we have in this format. We have a balanced side. We have a long batting line-up as well. It's all about going out there and enjoying ourselves."
India Women's Playing XI:
Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh(w), Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, Renuka Thakur Singh.
New Zealand Women's Playing XI:
Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine(c), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze(w), Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson
Head-to-Head in T20Is
In a total of 13 T20I matches played between them, India have won four while New Zealand have emerged victorious in nine of them. However, in T20 World Cup, both the sides have played 4 matches winning two games each.
India's Quest for Maiden T20 World Cup Glory
India, widely regarded as strong contenders for the title, are aiming to clinch their inaugural World Cup trophy, with the favorable conditions in the UAE working in their favor. The Indian team has consistently demonstrated strong performances in recent editions of the tournament, reaching the finals in 2020 and the semi-finals in both 2018 and 2023.
Inspired by the men's team's T20 World Cup victory earlier this year, the Indian women's team is determined to bring home their own championship trophy. Earlier, Jemimah Rodrigues has expressed her dream of lifting the trophy and celebrating with the same level of grandeur as the men's team.
