Dubai: Harmanpreet Kaur-led team India set to take on New Zealand in their opening match of the women's T20 World Cup on Friday in Dubai.
The T20 World Cup was originally scheduled to take place in Bangladesh, but owing to the ongoing unrest in the country, the ICC shifted the tournament to UAE. Bangladesh will be considered as host team for the the tournament.
India will be looking to win the prestigious tournament for the first time.
10-team tournament
Ten teams have been divided in two groups. One team will play one match each against the four other teams in the group in the tournament slated to begin from Thursday. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals scheduled to be played on October 17 and 18.
India in Group A
India is in group A, which also comprising Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and defending champions Australia. India will take on their arch-rivals Pakistan in their second match on Sunday.
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Solid batting line up
India will be looking to get off to a good start in the tournament and will be required excellent performances from batters Harmanpreet Kaur and batter Smriti Mandhana Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma.
Both right-hand batters Shafali and left hand batter Mandhana are in brilliant form.
Bowling Department
India playing with three pacers and 4 spinners in the tournament. Deepti Sharma will lead the pack of spinners. Shreyanka Patil, leg-spinner Asha Shobhana and left-armer Radha Yadav will be looking to contribute with the ball.
NZ expected to put up stiff chalange
The New Zealand women's cricket team, led by skipper Sophie Devine, is expected to deliver a formidable performance. They have experienced players such as Devine, all-rounder Suzie Bates, bowlers Lea Tahuhu and Leigh Kasperek.
The match is scheduled to start at 7:30 pm IST.
Indian team: Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Yastika Bhatia, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Sajana Saje
NZ team: New Zealand: Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Leigh Kasperek, Melie Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu.
