In the 42 T20I innings Richa Ghosh has played, she has faced more than 25 deliveries in an innings only five times. Shockingly, she didn’t face a single ball in the last T20I bilateral series against South Africa. Now, pause for a second. If you have seen her innings against the UAE on July 21, pause for a few seconds longer. This revelation might leave you puzzled.

For anyone who has witnessed this 20-year-old from Siliguri bat for India, it’s hard to accept that she hardly gets to bat for a significant duration in T20Is. Her performance against the UAE highlights her potential and raises questions about her underutilization in the team. It’s a frustration shared by many who see in her the future of Indian women’s cricket, yet find her opportunities to shine so limited.

The incredulity of Richa Ghosh’s stat is heightened further when considering her performance in the last five balls of her innings against the UAE, where she scored the fastest-ever 50-plus score in T20I cricket for an Indian woman. The offside field was heavily packed, and the bowler’s line and length were clear to Richa. It all depended on how she’d manage to thread the gaps in the 25-yard circle.

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In-depth Analysis of Richa Ghosh’s Match Winning Innings

On the second delivery of the over, the ball was full and outside off. For Richa, this was easy. She thrives in the V as a batter, and she sent the ball precisely there, collecting a four wide off mid-off. The next delivery was slightly short, requiring her to use her wrists. Richa did more than just guide the ball; she wristily slashed it with power, managing to place it wide of the diving point fielder. Another four! Her ability to read the game and exploit even the smallest gaps showcased her exceptional batting skills, making her innings against the UAE a remarkable display of her talent and potential.

The fifth delivery showcased Richa Ghosh’s growing range spectacularly. She executed a reverse sweep to hit a full ball to deep point for a boundary, stunning the UAE fielders. Richa, beaming with pride, flashed a broad smile, revealing all 32 of her teeth. Why shouldn’t she? She had just completed her first T20I fifty, and India was on the brink of crossing 200 for the first time in their history.

On the very next ball, India achieved that milestone, reaching 201/5 at the end of 20 overs – their highest score in a T20I game. Richa, the wicketkeeper from Siliguri, jogged back to the pavilion, all smiles, seemingly unaware of the magnitude of her own performance. Against the UAE, it was her off-side play that truly stood out. She scored 75% of her runs in that region with such finesse that it never felt like she was muscling the ball. Remarkably, in her innings played at a strike rate of 220.68, she hit just one six! All her other big shots were well-placed fours, underscoring her exceptional skill and precision.

Imagine the impact Richa Ghosh could make if she consistently faced more deliveries. Despite her limited opportunities, she has already established herself as the best wicketkeeper-batter India has ever had. It’s not just her keeping skills but the manner of her stroke play and the continuous improvements in her batting that make her stand out in a lineup filled with flamboyant batters like Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and Harmanpreet Kaur.

At just 20 years old, Richa has proven that she represents the next step in the evolution of batting in Indian women’s cricket. Her ability to adapt and innovate, as shown in her recent performances, highlights her immense potential and the significant impact she could have on the game if given more chances to shine.

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Tournament favorites are off and running well. India are bowling well and the batting line-up looks as commanding as ever indicating what could be another one-sided tournament.

IND-W vs UAE-W Match Details

Date: July 21st, 2024

Time: 7:00 PM IST

Venue: Dambulla

IND-W vs UAE-W Weather Report

Chances of rain are relatively low for the upcoming game.

IND-W vs UAE-W Pitch Report

Dambulla looks decent to bat on with spin likely to play a part later in the innings.

IND-W vs UAE-W Predicted Playing XI

IND-W Playing XI

Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Varma, Dayalan Hemalatha, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodriguez, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Renuka Singh

UAE-W Playing XI

Esha Oza, Theertha Satish, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Kavisha Egodage, Khushi Sharma, Heena Hotchandani, Vaishnave Mahesh, Rithika Rajith, Lavanya Keny, Indhuja Nandakumar

IND-W vs UAE-W Key Players

Renuka Singh

Renuka Singh has often been the one to set things up for India in tournaments. She has been a very effective new-ball bowler and her starts will be pretty interesting to watch.

Khushi Sharma

In the first game Khushi Sharma gave a good account of herself. While she will come later in the innings she could be the one to play those little gems to keep UAE interested.

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IND-W vs UAE-W Match Tips

India are likely to start favorites with more experience.

Match Prediction: India Will Win the Match

IND-W vs UAE-W Match Preview

After a thrilling start against Pakistan Women, India Women are now preparing to face the UAE Women in the sixth T20I of the Women’s Asia Cup. The match will take place on July 21st at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla beginning at 2 p.m. India Women have a perfect record against the UAE side. On a dry, batting-friendly track, India Women used a disciplined bowling attack to limit Pakistan Women to 108. The UAE Women were defeated by Nepal Women in the inaugural game of the Asia Cup 2024. Batting first, the UAE Women scored 115 runs for the loss of eight wickets. Khushi Sharma scored 36 runs off 39 balls for the UAE Women.

IND-W vs UAE-W Match Details

India-W vs UAE-W – 02nd Match, Women’s Asia Cup-2024

Venue: Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Dambulla

Date & Time: 21th July 2024 at 02:00 PM IST 

Live Streaming: Star Sports

IND-W vs UAE-W Venue Stats

IND-W vs UAE-W Pitch Report

Traditionally, the pitch has been known to be slow and low, which helps spinners as the game progresses. The surface dries out quickly, resulting in cracks that help spin bowlers extract turn, and bounce.

IND-W vs UAE-W Weather Report

The weather is going to be cloudy and humid. The temperatures will range between 25°C and 33°C. It is a slightly windy day without a chance of rain.

IND-W vs UAE-W Last Five Matches

IND-W vs UAE-W Head-to-Head Stats

Injury News

No Injury. Will be added when there is an update.

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IND-W vs UAE-W Probable Playing XIs:

UAE-W Probable Playing XIs

Esha Rohit Oza (c), Theertha Satish (wk), Rinitha Rajith, Kavisha Egodage, Samaira Dharnidharka, Khushi Sharma, Lavanya Keny, Vaishnave Mahesh, Indhuja Nandakumar, Heena Hotchandani, Rithika Rajith

India-W Probable Playing XIs

Smriti Mandana, Shafali Verma, Daylan Hemalatha, Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Renuka Singh, Pooja Vastrakar, Shreyanka Patil

Topmost Picks for IND-W vs UAE-W Dream11 Prediction:

Top Picks – UAE-W

Top Picks – India-W

• Smriti Mandana – Smriti Mandana has 3320 T20I runs at a strike rate of 121.83. runs for the team and recently led from the front in the ACC Premier Cup.
• Deepti Sharma – Deepti Sharma will lead the bowling attack. Sharma has had 37 wickets since 2023, with an average of 5.60.

Suggested Playing XI N0.1 for IND-W vs UAE-W Dream11 Team:

Harmanpreet Kaur, Theertha Satish, Smriti Mandana, Shafali Verma, Lavanya Keny, Esha Rohit Oza, Khushi Sharma, Kavisha Egodage(VC), Deepti Sharma(C), Pooja Vastrakar, Renuka Singh

Suggested Playing XI N0.2 for IND-W vs UAE-W Dream11 Team:

Richa Ghosh, Theertha Satish, Smriti Mandana(C), Shafali Verma(VC), Lavanya Keny, Esha Rohit Oza, Khushi Sharma, Kavisha Egodage, Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Renuka Singh

Captain and Vice-Captain Options:

Captain – Smriti Mandana, Deepti Sharma

Vice-captain – Kavisha Egodage, Shafali Verma

Wicketkeeper – Richa Ghosh

IND-W vs UAE-W Probable Winners:

India women are not comparable for UAE women. Their top five batters have scored almost as many runs as the 14 UAE women who batted this year. India Women won their only game against the UAE Women by 104 runs. They have seven wins in their last nine games and one loss. Kaur and her team will have an easy time of it. Considering the team combination, India-W are expected to win this match.