India is one of the youngest contingents to contest in the mega event – ICC World Cup 2020. It’s aptly led by Harmanpreet Kaur whose 11-years of experience in the shortest format will help India inch closer to its maiden T20 Worldcup title. The team has a strong line-up of batters, bowlers, and all-rounders who can prove to be beneficial for the mega event.
Strength
India has batting prowess led by Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues in the top order and Harmanpreet Kaur’s power play in the middle-order.
Their game collectively brings enormous balance either while chasing or posting a challenging score. India has a young team and their fielding tactics and sharp reflexes give an edge over the other teams. India will hope to train better in the fielding department under the newly appointed coach.
India have a supreme spin attack that is capable of obstructing run-flow and picking major wickets. India has tried to open with spin and it yielded satisfactory results. The spin strike will be lead by Poonam Yadav, Deepti Sharma, and Rajeshwari Gayakwad. It is enough to crumble even the top lineup in the world. Yet India lags behind in many areas, which is still a work in progress.
Weakness
Indian pace attack has become easily predictable, that’s added pressure to the new entrants like Arundathi Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar. Shikha Pandey who is the key in quick and early breakthroughs has failed to deliver in the recent tri-series in Australia, she picked only 3-wickets out of the 5-matches, also the pace attack fell flat on the Aussies pitches.
India’s complete trust in Taniya Bhatia has not yielded results so far since her inception in the team. India can’t afford to have a wicket-keeper alone who is lacking the batting motive. Its high time to look out for complete batter with decent wicket-keeping skills like Harleen Deol.
Indian players have to be more patient and watchful over the ground conditions. The lower order and the middle order have to step up when India is in crunch situations especially in chases that India completely trails behind when it faces top-ranked teams.
Key Players
Smriti Mandhana– Mandhana is India’s leading player when it comes to making her mark in terms of consistency, class, placement, and techniques. The opening batter in the Indian is expected to give India bright starts and possibly play a key role in the upcoming chases.
Harmanpreet Kaur– The captain of the Indian team and a dashing player in the middle-order is a game-changer. When she get’s going, no bowler can stop her outburst with the bat. A handy bowler can also be an additional spin option.
Poonam Yadav– Poonam will lead the spin attack. She will play a key role in leading the young group. Her flighted deliveries and economical overs combined with 7-years of experience in the shortest format will play a role in making a new line of spin bowlers.
Pooja Vastrakar– Pooja is back into the national team after her knee injury. She has the talent and ability to strike big and be the first choice pacer and fierce fielder on the ground. Her all-round exploits have to be put into use. She can fill the spot for India’s long search for an all-rounder.
Expectations
India will face the defending champions Australia in the opening ceremony. The rejuvenated White Ferns (New Zealand) and Bangladesh will also aim to cause a major upset. They will aim to sail past the lower-ranked teams, but taking them lightly might be costly as they will aim to recreate a win similar to that of its Asia cup triumph in the last edition.
The team will have to bring out a revelation like that in the 2017 world cup when all its plans worked in a coordinated manner. Since they have arrived early in Australia and the tri-series will allow them to be acclimatized to the Australian conditions. India has to work on its strength while the loopholes have to be plugged in especially the batting.
India has a high chance of reaching the Semis. It will have to convert its potential to performance in order to succeed.
India squad
Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana(Vice-Captain), Taniya Bhatia (Wicket-keeper), Harleen Deol, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Richa Ghosh, Veda Krishnamurthy, Shikha Pandey, Arundhati Reddy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Shafali Verma, Poonam Yadav, Radha Yadav.
Fixtures
India are placed in Group-A. Australia, Bangladesh, New Zealand and Sri Lanka are other teams in the group.
India vs Australia – 21st February (Friday)
India vs Bangladesh – 24th February (Monday)
India vs New Zealand – 27th February (Thursday)
India vs Sri Lanka – 29th February (Saturday)
