The 2024 Women’s Asia Cup (T20) is set to kick off on July 19 in Sri Lanka. Eight teams – India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, UAE, Malaysia, and Thailand – will compete in this thrilling tournament.
As the defending champions from the previous edition, India will enter the competition as strong favorites. Fresh off their recent multi-format series against South Africa, the Indian team is in excellent shape and will be brimming with confidence ahead of this multi-nation event.
This is only the fifth time the Women’s Asia Cup will be played in the T20 format, making it a crucial preparatory ground for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup later this year.
Trending also-read Harmanpreet Kaur will lead India, with Smriti Mandhana as her deputy. The squad boasts a balanced mix of experienced veterans and promising young talents, some of whom could potentially be the future stars of Indian women’s cricket.
As we build up to the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup, let’s take a closer look at three players who could be pivotal to India’s performance.
India’s 3 Key Players for the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup
#3 Pooja Vastrakar
Pooja Vastrakar showcased stellar form with the ball in the recent T20I series against South Africa. She took eight wickets in three innings at an impressive average of 9.12.
After losing the first game and with the second one being washed out, India needed to win the final T20I to level the series. Pooja played a crucial role in this must-win game, claiming four wickets as India secured a 10-wicket victory.
Given her ability to contribute valuable runs with the bat, Pooja’s all-round skills could prove to be essential for the Women in Blue. She is likely to spearhead the pace attack alongside Renuka Singh.
#2 Jemimah Rodrigues
Jemimah Rodrigues will be another vital player for India in the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup.
In the T20I series against South Africa, Jemimah had limited opportunities to bat but made a significant impact when she did. She scored an unbeaten 53 off 30 balls, striking at 176.66, under pressure as India chased a target of 190 runs. Although India narrowly lost by 12 runs, Jemimah’s performance was a highlight.
With 217 runs in the previous edition, Jemimah was the top scorer and will be eager to replicate her success this time around.
#1 Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana has been in phenomenal form leading up to the tournament. She was a key performer for India throughout the series against South Africa, excelling across all formats. The Indian vice-captain scored a magnificent 149 in the only Test, followed by 343 runs in the ODI series, including two centuries.
In the T20I series, she scored 100 runs in two innings, including a 46 in the first game and an unbeaten 54 in the third. If Smriti can maintain her excellent form in the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup, it will significantly boost India’s chances of defending their title.
With these three stars in top form, India’s prospects in the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup look promising. Stay tuned as the action unfolds and these players strive to lead India to another championship victory!
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