India Women, led by Smriti Mandhana, end half a decade-long wait by registering their first bilateral T20I series win at home in the last five years. They do so by thrashing West Indies Women in the series decider by galloping 60 runs. In the process, India Women also complete their fourth T20I win against West Indies Women at home and 15th overall in 24 WT20Is.  

Prior to this series win, India's last series win at home came way back in October 2019 against South Africa Women. 

See also:  Major breakthrough for ICC as neutral venues to play host to all India-Pakistan matches till 2027

Mandhana's opens up on India's emphatic T20I series win

After receiving a brutal 9-wicket hammering in the second WT20I, the pressure was back on the Smriti Mandhana-led Indian side. With three consecutive series defeats against England, Australia, and South Africa in the past 12 months, the fourth white-ball home series defeat looked imminent.

But speaking at a press conference, the Indian skipper revealed that the team had a pep talk ahead of the third WT20I and sensed that they had the opportunity to win a T20I series at home after five long years.

“It’s been five years since we haven’t won a T20I series in India. That was the chat earlier in the day. We had the chance to do it after 5 years. Need to keep doing the right things now. With the kind of batting line-up, we have some new youngsters. So need to take responsibility. More than timing the ball, I try to put my head into playing according to the situation."

Mandhana was in dominant form with the bat in the series returning impressive scores of 64, 63, and 77. She played an instrumental role in steering India to a famous 2-1 win against West Indies thus putting an end to their bleak streak in this format at home. Her carnage with the bat followed by her tactical brilliance on the field saved the day for the home side in the do-or-die decider clash on Thursday. 

Mandhana lauds Richa Ghosh for her record-breaking blitzkreig

Both Mandhana and Richa were at their brutal best with the bat on the third and final WT20I. The duo launched a scathing assault on the Windies Women bowlers to power India to their highest-ever WT20I score of 217-4. Richa hammered a blistering 18-ball fifty and equaled the record for achieving the fastest WT20I fifty. In her short-lived entertaining knock, Richa only lasted 21 balls but went on to make a match-defining contribution of 54 runs with the help of three boundaries and five sixes.

Following the end of the match, the Indian skipper heaped endless praise on the youngster and lauded her for notching up a record-breaking performance at the DY Patil Stadium. Being conscious of the dew factor, Mandhana appreciated how her entire team worked collectively in all departments to negate that impending threat from dew.  

“Liked the way Richa Ghosh batted. The way the girls stepped up today, they played with a lot of intent. I wouldn’t have been able to that playing my second or third match."

India Women's next white-ball assignment against West Indies will commence with a three-match WODI series starting on December 22 at Vadodara. 

After a disappointing Australia tour, India Women started their home WT20I series against West Indies in a powerful way by securing a 49-run win in the three-match WT20I series opener. 

At the DY Patil Stadium, India Women captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and chose to bat first. While India Women scored their third-highest WT20I total of 195/4 in 20 overs, they restricted West Indies Women to 146/7 in 20 overs. 

See Also: Smriti Mandhana creates history with her fourth WODI century in 2024

Smriti Mandhana hit 28th WT20I half-century

Indian openers Smriti Mandhana and Uma Chetry provided a powerful start for the hosts with 50/0. Although Chetry was out soon after the powerplay, vice-captain Mandhana continued her strong batting performance with Jemimah Rodrigues. They had an 81-run partnership for the second wicket. 

While Mandhana was out after scoring 54 off 33 balls with the help of seven fours and two sixes, Rodrigues continued her dominant batting. Mandhana recorded her 28th WT20I half-century, second most 50+ scores in WT20I history, just below New Zealand Women batter Suzie Bates' 29 times 50+ score. Also, it was Mandhana's sixth WT20I 50+ score in 2024, which is the joint second-most 50+ WT20I score in a calendar year.

Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh had a powerful cameo with 20 runs in 14 balls with the help of two fours and one six. Also, the skipper Harmanpreet Kaur scored 13 not out off 11 balls with one four. 

Jemimah Rodrigues managed her best WT20I score in India

Jemimah Rodrigues completed her 12th WT20I half-century in just 28 balls, which recorded her fastest WT20I fifty. In the last four overs, India Women added 40 runs. She scored 73 runs off 35 balls with the help of nine fours and two sixes, which was her third-highest WT20I score but the highest WT20I score in India. 

Among the Caribbean bowlers, only Karishma Ramharack shined with the ball as she had the bowling figures 4-0-18-2.

Only Qiana Joseph and Deandra Dottin produced some fightback 

In reply, West Indies Women lost their first two wickets before completing the seventh over. While the skipper and opener Hayley Matthews was out in the second over after scoring only one run, Shemaine Campbelle was bowled for 13 runs. 

Another opener Qiana Joseph and the no.4 batter Deandra Dottin had a brief fiery partnership which helped them to stay in the game strongly. They had a 44-run partnership in just 18 balls. Indian bowler Titas Sadhu, who already dismissed Matthews, timely dismissed 49 off 33 balls with the help of five fours and three sixes. Since that wicket, only Dottin fought hard but she couldn't get proper support from the other end.

Dottin scored 52 runs off 28 balls with the help of four fours and three sixes before Sadhu dismissed her to end the last hope for the visitors. Although Sadhu conceded 37 runs in her four overs, she took three important wickets to secure India's comfortable win. Also, Deepti Sharma (2/21) and Radha Yadav (2/28) bagged two wickets each.

Former India Women and Bengal fast bowler Jhulan Goswami is all set to get a new stand named after herself at the Eden Gardens prior to the start of the T20I series between India and England earlier next year. Following a proposal from the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), a stand will be named in her honor in the 'B' Block of Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Goswami is the highest wicket-taker in women's ODI cricket. The proposal to introduce a new stand was put forward by the apex body of CAB and it is expected to be in full operation by January 22 when India prepare to take on Australia in a T20I series. 

Here is how Goswami reacted to the news 

The former fast-bowling legend was filled with joy and excitement upon hearing the news. She expressed that she never believed such a development would be made possible in her lifetime. She hopes to visit the stand someday when its ready and looks forward to watching a match from there. 

"I never imagined something like this would come to fruition. I would definitely love to watch a match from there. For any cricketer, the ultimate dream is to represent her district, state, or country, but receiving an honor like this is truly monumental. A dedicated stand is a huge, significant honour, and it's only possible because of the CAB's vision to promote women's cricket. Words can't do justice to this recognition."

Additionally, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly and international cricketer Pankaj Roy also have the stands named after them at the Eden Gardens. Besides, are also stands named for two former BCCI presidents, Jagmohan Dalmiya and Biswanath Dutt.

A look into Jhulan Goswami's past record

Jhulan represented India across all three formats and has finished her career with 44 wickets in 12 Tests, a world-record 255 wickets in 204 ODIs, and another 56 dismissals in 68 T20Is. With 355 wickets under her kitty, the Bengal-based bowler now has the most number of wickets in women's internationals. 

See also: Kohli’s road to redemption: Intense training ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy

The ICC has released the latest Future Tours Programme (FTP) for women's cricket for the 2025-29 cycle, bringing several key updates aimed at enhancing the global profile of the sport. Among the highlights are dedicated windows for three major T20 leagues: the Women's Premier League (WPL) in January-February, The Hundred in August, and the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in November. This strategic scheduling ensures uninterrupted participation of international stars, thereby heightening the competition’s appeal and fan engagement across the globe.

ICC unveils new women's FTP with separate windows for WPL, Hundred, and WBBL

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has also shifted the WPL window to January-February from 2026. This adjustment aligns with Cricket Australia's (CA) decision to reschedule its marquee international home fixtures, previously held in mid-January, to a February-March window. The 2025 Women’s Ashes, set to begin in January, will be Australia’s last home series during this time slot until at least 2029. Following the WPL in 2026, Australia is set to host India for a highly anticipated tour, featuring one Test, three ODIs, and three T20Is.

See Also: KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel head to Australia early for crucial preparation ahead of Test

ICC Women's Championship expanded and new T20 Champions Trophy announced

In a bid to expand the reach of women's cricket, the ICC Women's Championship will now include 11 teams, with Zimbabwe joining as the latest addition. This expansion follows the recent inclusion of Bangladesh and Ireland, underscoring the ICC’s commitment to growing the women’s game. With Zimbabwe’s addition, every Full Member of the ICC, except Afghanistan, will now field a team in the ODI Championship. The current cycle will culminate in the 2025 ODI World Cup in India, promising a highly competitive format with new entrants.

The ICC also introduced a T20 Champions Trophy, set to be hosted by Sri Lanka in 2027. This event is part of ICC’s strategy to have at least one global women’s tournament every year, with the Champions Trophy joining an already busy schedule of major events. In 2028, fans can look forward to the inclusion of cricket in the Los Angeles Olympics (August) and the T20 World Cup (September), which will take place within a 14-month period, offering fans an action-packed calendar of top-level women’s cricket.

India Women put up a brave fight but came up short by just 9 runs against Australia Women in a crucial Group A match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 at Sharjah. Australia’s win secured their place in the semifinals, leaving India’s qualification hopes hanging on the outcome of the Pakistan Women vs New Zealand Women match. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten fifty went in vain as India Women couldn’t chase down Australia’s total of 151/8.

Strong start by Renuka Singh in the powerplay

After Australia Women chose to bat first, Indian fast bowler Renuka Singh provided a dream start, dismissing opener Beth Mooney (2) and Georgia Wareham (0) on consecutive deliveries. This early breakthrough left Australia at 9/2 inside the first three overs. Despite the shaky start, Grace Harris and stand-in captain Tahila McGrath anchored the innings with a crucial 62-run partnership, steadying the innings for the Aussies.

Grace Harris and Tahila McGrath anchor Australia's innings

Grace Harris played a composed knock, scoring 40 off 41 balls, while McGrath contributed a quickfire 32 off 26 balls. Australia reached 37/2 by the end of the powerplay, but India continued to apply pressure. The partnership between Harris and McGrath gave Australia some breathing room before McGrath was caught out by Deepti Sharma in the 11th over.

Harris followed suit shortly after, leaving the Australian innings in a bit of trouble. However, stand-in vice-captain Ellyse Perry stabilized things further with her 32 off 23 balls, helping Australia post a competitive total of 151/8 in 20 overs.

Renuka Singh and Deepti Sharma were the pick of the Indian bowlers, both claiming two wickets each and keeping the Australian run rate in check. Renuka finished with impressive figures of 2/24, while Deepti grabbed 2/28.

See Also: Mahela Jayawardene returns to Mumbai Indians coaching

Shafali Verma provides a quick start in India's chase

In response, India Women needed a strong start to chase down 152. Opener Shafali Verma didn’t disappoint, smashing 20 runs off just 13 balls, which included two boundaries and a towering six. However, her aggressive start was cut short when she was dismissed by Ashleigh Gardner in the fourth over.

The fall of wickets continued, as Smriti Mandhana (6) was sent back to the pavilion in the very next over by Sophie Molineux. India found themselves at 41/2 at the end of the powerplay, struggling to keep pace with the required run rate.

 

 

 

 

 

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Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma build a crucial partnership

With India Women at 47/3 after the loss of Jemimah Rodrigues for 16, captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma took charge. The duo added 63 runs for the fourth wicket, bringing India back into the game. Kaur batted brilliantly under pressure, showing why she is one of the best in the world. Deepti Sharma also provided valuable support, scoring 29 off 25 balls, including three boundaries.

 

 

 

 

 

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Despite the strong partnership, the required run rate kept climbing, and Deepti’s dismissal in the 16th over by Molineux left India Women in a tight spot. Harmanpreet Kaur continued to fight valiantly, scoring back-to-back half-centuries, and remained unbeaten on 54 off 42 balls, hitting six boundaries in her knock.

India’s collapse in the final over

India Women needed 14 runs in the final over with Kaur still at the crease. However, a dramatic collapse saw them lose four wickets in that final over, including two crucial run-outs. Annabel Sutherland bowled the final over and picked up 2/22 in her four overs, ensuring Australia Women’s victory by just 9 runs. India managed only four runs in the final over, finishing on 142/9 in 20 overs.

 

 

 

 

 

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With this victory, Australia Women cemented their position at the top of Group A, having won all four of their matches. They comfortably qualified for the semifinals. For India Women, this loss was a huge blow to their semi-final hopes. Their qualification now depends entirely on New Zealand Women’s match against Pakistan Women. If Pakistan Women manage to defeat New Zealand, India will secure their spot in the semifinals. However, a win for New Zealand will eliminate India from the tournament.

 

 

 

 

 

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India all-rounder Arundhati Reddy has been reprimanded and handed one demerit point following an incident during India's ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match against Pakistan. Despite being named Player of the Match for her outstanding bowling performance, Reddy’s send-off gesture towards Pakistan’s Nida Dar has attracted attention and disciplinary action.

Controversial send-off during Pakistan's innings

The incident took place during the 20th over of Pakistan's innings when Reddy dismissed Nida Dar, Pakistan's top scorer in the game, for 28. As Dar was leaving the field, Reddy pointed toward the pavilion, a gesture that was interpreted as provocative. The send-off, which violated the ICC’s code of conduct, resulted in Reddy being charged with breaching Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel.

This article covers "using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal during an International Match." Given that this is her first offense within the ICC’s two-year period for demerit points, Reddy now carries one demerit point on her record. Accumulating four demerit points within this time frame could lead to a ban from future matches.

The Indian all-rounder did not contest the charges and accepted the sanction proposed by the match referee. The reprimand somewhat dulled the shine of Reddy's impactful performance, where she claimed three crucial wickets and helped India restrict Pakistan to a modest total of 105/8.

Reddy’s heroic performance guides India to victory

Despite the reprimand, Arundhati Reddy's performance on the field was exceptional, playing a pivotal role in India’s much-needed victory. In her four-over spell, Reddy bowled with precision, claiming three wickets for just 19 runs, including the key dismissals of Omaima Sohail, Aliya Riaz, and Nida Dar.

Reddy’s efforts helped stifle Pakistan’s middle-order, preventing them from building momentum in the later stages of their innings. Her final wicket, that of Nida Dar, came at a crucial moment and effectively ended Pakistan’s hopes of posting a more competitive total. Along with her teammates, Reddy ensured that Pakistan could only score 29 runs in the final four overs, a phase where Pakistan failed to accelerate despite having wickets in hand.

Reddy’s disciplined bowling and match-winning spell earned her the Player of the Match award, as India bounced back from their opening loss to New Zealand to secure their first win in the tournament. This victory boosts India’s chances of progressing to the knockout stages.

While the victory was significant for India, Reddy’s send-off incident cast a shadow over her otherwise impeccable performance. The demerit point serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to the spirit of the game. As per the ICC rules, any player accumulating four demerit points within a two-year period will face a suspension, which could impact their participation in crucial matches.

Reddy will now have to be cautious in her conduct on the field in future matches to avoid further disciplinary actions. Nevertheless, her performance on the day was critical in securing a vital win for India in the Women’s T20 World Cup campaign.

See Also: Will India travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy? PCB chief reveals

In the match, Pakistan Women were restricted to 105/8 in their 20 overs, largely due to the impressive bowling from Reddy and her teammates. In response, India chased down the target comfortably, reaching 109/4 with 11 balls to spare. Reddy’s performance, though marred by the reprimand, played a key role in India’s clinical win.

After a big defeat against New Zealand Women in their tournament opener, India Women comfortably beat Pakistan Women by six wickets. 

After winning the toss, Pakistan Women scored 105/8 in 20 overs. While India Women had to chase the target within 11.2 overs to make the run rate positive, they had no such ambition. They reached the target in 18.5 overs after losing four wickets. 

Two wickets in the disciplined powerplay

Pakistan Women lost two wickets in the powerplay and scored 29 runs. Renuka Singh bowled the opener Gull Feroza for a duck in the first over, while Deepti Sharma bowled Sidra Amin (8) in the fifth over. 

Reddy and Patil were stars in the first innings

Arundhati Reddy (3/19) took three wickets and Shreyanka Patil (2/12) picked up two wickets as the Pakistan batters had no strong answers. All the Indian bowlers picked up at least one wicket each. Only Nida Dar reached the 20-run mark as Pakistan Women managed to score only 105/8.  

A slow start for India

India Women started their chasing slowly. They scored 25/1 at the end of the powerplay where India didn’t hit a boundary. Sadia Iqbal took the wicket of Smriti Mandhana for seven runs. 

Lost three wickets in 22 balls

Indian batters continued their cautious batting but lost three wickets in 22 balls during the early second half of the chasing. After Omaima Sohail dismissed Shafali Verma, who scored 32 off 35 balls with the help of three fours, captain Fatima Sana took the wickets of Jemimah Rodrigues (23) and Richa Ghosh (0) in back-to-back deliveries. 

Captain controlled the successful chasing

Despite losing three wickets between the 12th and 16th overs, captain Harmanpreet Kaur controlled the chasing. Just before the end of the match, while India required two runs in eight balls, Kaur hurt herself to face a ball. While injured Kaur went to the pavilion on 29 off 24 balls (retired hurt), Sajeevan Sajana ended the game in the next ball with a four. 

India's campaign in the T20 World Cup 2024 is in jeopardy after a disappointing performance against New Zealand in their opening match. The Women in Blue now face the tough task of winning all their remaining group stage matches to stay in contention for the next round, with arch-rivals Pakistan up next.

India crumble under pressure in opening match 

Harmanpreet Kaur’s side got off to a shaky start in the tournament, suffering a heavy defeat against New Zealand in Dubai. Chasing a challenging target of 161, the Indian team collapsed under pressure, managing only 102 runs before being bowled out in 19 overs. Rosemary Mair led the charge for New Zealand with an impressive 4-19, including the crucial wicket of Harmanpreet Kaur inside the power play. Lea Tahuhu supported her with a solid bowling performance, taking 3-15.

Despite India's strong batting line-up, the team struggled to build momentum and failed to match New Zealand’s intensity in all three departments—batting, bowling, and fielding.

See Also: Women's T20 World Cup 2024 Video Highlights: Australia kick off T20I journey defeating Sri Lanka

Must-win game for India against confident Pakistan

India’s path to the next stage of the T20 World Cup has become tricky, as they must win all remaining group-stage matches to advance. Their next challenge comes in the form of Pakistan, who are full of confidence after defeating Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka in their opening match. Although Pakistan have historically struggled against India, having won just three encounters, they are riding high on their recent victory and pose a significant hurdle for India.

• Fixture: India Women vs Pakistan Women, T20 World Cup 2024
• Date: Sunday, October 6, 2024
• Time: 7:30 PM IST (Toss at 7:00 PM IST)
• Venue: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai
• Live Telecast: Star Sports Network
• Live Streaming: Disney+ Hotstar app and website

Harmanpreet Kaur and her team will be aware of their superior head-to-head record against Pakistan but will need to bounce back strongly from their recent loss to stay in contention for the tournament.

India Women Squad: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh(w), Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, Renuka Thakur Singh, Yastika Bhatia, S Sajana, Dayalan Hemalatha, Radha Yadav

Pakistan Women Squad: Muneeba Ali(w), Gull Feroza, Sidra Amin, Omaima Sohail, Nida Dar, Tuba Hassan, Fatima Sana(c), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal, Iram Javed, Syeda Aroob Shah, Sadaf Shamas, Tasmia Rubab

The first innings between India and New Zealand at the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 saw moments of controversy and strong bowling from India after an explosive start by the Kiwis. New Zealand reached 139/3 at the end of 18 overs, setting up what could be a thrilling second half of the match in Dubai.

Amelia Kerr’s controversial run-out stirs debate

A significant moment occurred during the 14th over when a controversy erupted over a run-out involving New Zealand batter Amelia Kerr. After hitting a delivery from Deepti Sharma towards long-off, Kerr completed a single with Sophie Devine at the non-striker's end. Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur collected the ball but did not throw it as the umpire had seemingly signaled the end of the over. However, in a surprising move, Devine attempted a second run, prompting Kaur to throw the ball to the striker’s end, where Kerr was adjudged out. After much deliberation, the umpires declared it not out, as the ball was considered dead. This decision left Harmanpreet visibly unhappy and sparked discussions among the players.

See Also: Women's T20 World Cup 2024 Video Highlight: Pakistan Women secure dominant win over Sri Lanka Women

India’s bowling comeback and fielding errors

Despite the controversy, India's bowlers made a strong comeback, especially after the initial onslaught from New Zealand’s top order. Arundhati Reddy and Asha Sobhana each picked up crucial wickets to slow New Zealand’s momentum. After dismissing Georgia Plimmer and Suzie Bates, India regained control in the middle overs with tight bowling and increased pressure on the Kiwi batters.

However, New Zealand capitalized on some lapses in India’s fielding. Smriti Mandhana and wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh missed opportunities that could have halted New Zealand’s steady scoring. Still, India managed to restrict the Black Ferns, thanks to disciplined spells from the likes of Asha Sobhana.

In a tough outing for India, Deepti Sharma registered her name in an unwanted record during the ongoing Women's T20 World Cup 2024 clash against New Zealand. Conceding 0/45, she now holds the second spot for most runs conceded by an Indian bowler in a Women's T20 World Cup match. This follows Shikha Pandey, who gave away 0/52 against Australia in 2020. Deepti's performance adds to her earlier figures of 1/39 against Pakistan in 2023, highlighting a challenging period for India's bowling attack.

In today's match New Zealand women's team has posted a solid total of 160/4 in their allotted 20 overs against India in their T20 World Cup 2024 opener at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. On a surface that appeared favorable for batters, New Zealand showcased a balanced approach, with key contributions from their top and middle order.

Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 started on October 3 and India Women's Team will start their campaign by taking on New Zealand on October 4 as well. Notably, the Indian Women's Team have never won a T20 World Cup trophy and this is their ninth edition of the event as well. Ahead of their tournament opener, the players received good luck messages from their friends and family. 

However, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian team came close to winning the trophy in 2020 but they lost to Australia in the final. As the latest edition of the event is taking place in the United Arab Emirates, the conditions and the strength of the team make them one of the favourites to lift the trophy as well. Meanwhile, BCCI arranged the family messages in a video and presented them to the players who are all set to begin their campaign.

Team India to start their campaign against New Zealand

“Hi Smriti we wish you all the best for the upcoming World Cup. We just wanted to let you know and the entire team that we are super proud of you for the hard work you put in day in and day out,” said Mandhana’s family.

“Really proud of my daughter, Shreyanka Patil on being selected for the first T20 World Cup. Congratulations Shreyanka and all the best team India,” said Shryanka’s parents.

SEE ALSO: Diana Baig's injury scare brings a big blow for Pakistan Women

Here are the family video messages for the team:

 

 

 

 

 

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However, Team India are placed in Group A along with Australia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and New Zealand. Meanwhile, Australia are six-time champion and they will enter as the defending champions in the UAE as well. On the other hand, Team India have been preparing hard ahead of the marquee event and they would hope for a positive start right from the first game when they play against New Zealand as well.