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The Women's T20 World Cup 2024 is off to a thrilling start with India set to face New Zealand in their opening match. The tournament commenced on October 4th, with Bangladesh securing a 16-run victory against Scotland and Pakistan claiming a 31-run win over Sri Lanka in the early matches. India's match against New Zealand will be the second encounter of the day, following the South Africa vs West Indies clash. Harmanpreet Kaur, leading the Indian team, is determined to guide India to their maiden T20 World Cup championship.
The highly anticipated match between India and New Zealand is scheduled for 7.30pm IST, taking place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This venue, along with the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, will host the tournament. The second match of the day at this venue could see dew playing a substantial role, potentially influencing the outcome of the match. The Dubai International Cricket Stadium has hosted five Women's T20Is so far, and the India vs New Zealand match will be the seventh to take place on this ground.
Both India and New Zealand showcased strong performances in their warm-up matches. India emerged victorious in both their matches, defeating West Indies by 20 runs and South Africa by 28 runs. Notably, India batted first in both these warm-up encounters. New Zealand, on the other hand, recorded a win against South Africa by eight wickets in their first warm-up match but suffered a five-wicket loss to England in their second match. Interestingly, New Zealand bowled first in both their warm-up matches.
Several key players from both teams will be under the spotlight. For India, Smriti Mandhana, the senior opener, has been in exceptional form heading into the tournament. Mandhana has been instrumental in India's success, contributing significantly to their recent victories and scoring three half-centuries in the process. India will rely heavily on Mandhana's contributions to their batting line-up, hoping she can deliver the goods and help them claim their first T20 World Cup title.
Another key player to watch for India is Shafali Verma, Mandhana's opening partner. Verma possesses the ability to change the course of the match single-handedly on her day. However, consistency has been a challenge for her. In the months leading up to the T20 World Cup, she has focused on improving her consistency and mental game. If she manages to maintain her composure, Verma's powerful hitting could drastically boost India's chances of securing the championship.
New Zealand will be banking on their captain, Sophie Devine, to lead the charge. However, Devine is acutely aware that their team enters the tournament as underdogs given their recent struggles. They faced a challenging period, losing all 13 matches against England and Australia. Interestingly, New Zealand has opted to shift Devine to the middle order, disrupting her opening partnership with Suzie Bates, which was once among the most prolific in women's T20Is. Regardless of their recent form, Devine's all-round abilities mean that she can single-handedly turn the tide of the match in their favor.
The predicted XIs for the match are as follows: India: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (w), Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, Renuka Thakur Singh, Arundhati Reddy. New Zealand: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (c), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze (w), Lea Tahuhu, Molly Penfold, Leigh Kasperek, Jess Kerr.