Women's T20 World Cup 2024: India Women's Team squad, Probable XI & Top 3 players to check out

The women's Indian Cricket team would be one of the major contenders for the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup in the UAE. With an optimum mix of experienced and emerging players, the team can strive their way to their first-ever title in the short-format tournament.

With the team reaching the finals twice and their 2022 run ending in the group stage, the side under the captaincy of Harmanpreet Kaur and her deputy, Smriti Mandhana, would be eager to turn the tables. That said, here's the list of the three players to check out from the Indian side for the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup, in addition of the announced full squad and its probable XI.

Announced Women's India 2024 T20 World Cup Full Squad: 

Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (Vice-Captain), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (Wicketkeeper), Yastika Bhatia* (Wicketkeeper), Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil*, Sajana Sajeevan

*subject to fitness clearance

India's Probable XI:

1. Smriti Mandhana (Vice-Captain)
2. Shafali Verma
3. Yastika Bhatia
4. Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain)
5. Jemimah Rodrigues
6. Richa Ghosh (Wicketkeeper)
7. Deepti Sharma
8. Pooja Vastrakar
9. Shreyanka Patil
10. Asha Joy
11. Renuka Singh Thakur

Also Read: 2024 Women's T20 World Cup: Top 3 players to check out from the women's New Zealand squad

Top-3 player to check out from India in the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup:

Harmanpreet Kaur

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur is widely recognised as one of the top players in the world. When you consider some of the most crucial events in Indian women's cricket, she is almost certainly involved. She has subsequently become a well-known cricketer with an impressive international record. She has scored over 3,000 runs and taken 32 wickets in international T20 matches, notably a show-stopping effort against Australia in which she scored 46 runs from 31 balls to secure India's highest-ever run chase.

In 2019, Kaur became the first Indian cricketer to make over 100 international T20 appearances for her country, showcasing her effect on the game. The all-rounder will want to lead India to a more successful run.

Smriti Mandhana

Smriti Mandhana, one of the most reliable Indian openers in the game, instils dread in any bowling attack. After smashing ceiling after ceiling, she is now one of the top names on the list of tournament coaches worldwide. In addition to her widespread recognition in the WPL after winning the maiden title for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, she has gained popularity in other cash-rich international events like the WBBL and The Hundred.

She has demonstrated her ability to perform under the most challenging situations. Seeing her as one of the tournament's leading run scorers will be no surprise. In 141 T20I appearances, she has scored 3493 runs, including 26 half-centuries, at an average of 30. 

Deepti Sharma

Deepti Sharma, who ranked third in the ICC WT20 all-rounder rankings, has emerged as a pivotal player for India in recent years in both bat and ball. Her efforts in the most recent World Cup in South Africa earned the 27-year-old a spot in the ICC Team of the Year 2023.

After changing her bowling approach halfway through her career, Sharma became the first Indian cricketer to take 100 IT20 wickets in 2018 and has since gone from strength to strength in competitions worldwide. In her humongous stint of 117 matches, she has scalped 131 wickets at an economy of 5.97 and made over 1000 runs, signifying her all-rounder persona.