The Indian women’s team will try not to buckle under the pressure of expectations when they begin their T20 World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Dubai on Friday.
India have a well-balanced team, but it is their tendency to falter in crunch situations which has historically troubled them and is one of the main reasons why they are still trophyless in marquee ICC events despite making the finals multiple times.
The onus surely will be on seniors like skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and opener Smriti Mandhana to show the way, but it is the spinners who will perhaps hold the key to India’s fate on the slow UAE pitches.
India’s armoury of spinners includes off-spinners Deepti Sharma and Shreyanka Patil, leg-spinner Asha Shobhana and left-arm spinner Radha Yadav. On the weary tracks, their skill will be India’s biggest weapon.
But only spin will not win them matches. The batters need to be at the top of their game as it is the demand of the format. Openers Mandhana and Shafali Verma need to give confident starts for the rest to follow. Mandhana looks to be in good touch as she
has three fifties in her last five T20 innings.
Harmanpreet and Jemimah Rodrigues will have to marshal the middle order.
New Zealand have a good blend of experience and youth and will look to challenge India. In captain Sophie Devine and all-rounder Suzie Bates, they have two very experienced and powerful performers who can make a difference. Young all-rounder Amelia Kerr is there too.
Starting a big tournament on a winning note always helps. It remains to be seen which team gets a headstart.
