Cricket News: ICC Women's World T20 - India face tough test against New Zealand in tournament opener

The sixth edition of the ICC Women’s World Cup gets underway on November 9 in West Indies and the buzz around the first-ever standalone ICC Women’s World T20 has been immense. Powerhouses Australia and New Zealand are in Group B comprising India, Pakistan and qualifiers Ireland. While Group A consists defending champion West Indies, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Australia, three-time ICC Women’s World T20 and the No.1 ranked team in the ICC Women’s ranking for T20Is, are the firm favourites to top the group. Giving them stiff competition will be the second-ranked New Zealand team. India, the runner-ups in the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup in England in 2017 will have to punch above their weight to have a chance at qualifying for the semi-finals. While they will back themselves to get the better of Ireland, they will have to keep pressure under check against Pakistan, and beat at least one of the top two to stand a chance of making it past the group stage. Hence, the opening game against New Zealand will be crucial. The selectors are hoping that a young squad will make the difference for them. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side has seven members who have played fewer than 15 T20Is, with one uncapped player in D Hemalatha. The youngsters, including batter Jemimah Rodrigues, wicket-keeper batter Taniya Bhatia, bowlers Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Mansi Joshi and Radha Yadav, have given a good account of themselves when they’ve had a chance. But it will be up to the more experienced Mithali Raj, Poonam Yadav, Kaur and Smriti Mandhana to hold the fort for the Indian team.