Top India Women players to watch out for in upcoming Asia Cup 2024. Who could be the standout performer for India Women in Asia Cup 2024.
The much-awaited Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2024 will begin on July 19 in Sri Lanka. The eight times participating in the marquee event will feature some of the top stars from the subcontinent. India Women are the defending champions. In the previous edition, they got the better of Sri Lanka in a comprehensive eight-wicket victory.
The Blue Brigade are among the most powerful teams in the competition’s history, with victories in 2012, 2016, and 2022. Here’s a look at the top five India players to watch out for in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2024.
Smriti Mandhana
India’s vice-captain Smirti Mandhana, is coming into the tournament after a sensational home series against South Africa. The left-handed opening batter looked in supreme touch in both the white-ball formats. Of late, she has also increased her stroke play and looked to take on the bowlers consistently in the powerplay.
The 27-year-old finished the three-match T20I series against the Proteas as the second-highest run-getter. She clubbed 100 runs in two innings at a strike rate of 142.85, with the best of 54 unbeaten runs. Her career tally of 3320 WT20I runs is the fifth highest in this format. This has come in 131 innings, at a strike rate of around 122, with 24 half-centuries.
The focus will be on Smriti to provide India with an attacking start in the tournament. She will also look to stay in good form before the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup later this year.
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Jemimah Rodrigues
It will be really interesting to see how the Indian management uses Jemimah Rodrigues. She was given the job of coming in at number five in the recently concluded home series against South Africa. But she could also handle the pressure at number three, as she has done for the Delhi Capitals Women (DCW). Rodrigues didn’t get much chance to contribute against the Proteas.
In the first game against the Proteas, she nailed an excellent 53 runs in 30 balls at a strike rate of over 176. Even though Jemimah failed to carry India over the line, the innings saw her exhibiting her power, cracking seven boundaries and one six. The second game was a washed-out affair, while the third game saw the hosts win by a 10-wicket margin.
Overall, the 23-year-old has collected 1997 career runs at an average of 30.25. The strike rate of 112.95 is quite good, besides celebrating 11 fifties with a best of 76. Her role in the middle order will be quite important for the defending champions, especially against the spinners.
Richa Ghosh
Richa Ghosh is someone who loves to smash the ball, coming down the batting order. Her form will be vital for India to get quick runs at the death. The 20-year-old didn’t get a chance to bat in the home T20I series.
The Siliguri-born was the eighth-highest run-getter of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024. For Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCBW), the right-handed batter hammered 257 runs in nine innings, at an average of around 43. The strike rate of over 140 was again quite healthy, besides celebrating a couple of half-centuries.
In 41 WT20I innings, Richa has managed 760 runs at a strike rate of nearly 135. India will hope to see her come with all guns blazing.
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Shreyanka Patil
Spinners are always going to play a huge role for any side on the tracks of Sri Lanka. The likes of Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav will need contributions from the other bowlers. The off-spinner, Shreyanka Patil, will have a huge responsibility on her shoulders.
She would already be high in confidence, having finished the last WPL season as the highest wicket-taker. The RCBW bowler bagged 13 wickets in eight innings at an economy of 7.30. The average of 12.07 and strike rate of under 10, with two four-wicket hauls, were quite impressive.
In 11 WT20I innings, the 21-year-old Karnataka bowler has picked up 14 scalps at an economy of 7.39. Her role will be important for India in defending their title.
Asha Sobhana
Asha Sobhana made her debut on the biggest stage quite late in her career. The leg spinner has a terrific skill at foxing the batters with her variations. The Kerala-born player finished as the second-highest wicket-taker in the WPL 2024. She collected 12 scalps in 10 innings, with an economy of just over seven.
The slow and low conditions will be helpful for her too. In three WT20I innings, Sobhana has four wickets at an economy of 7.45. Her partnership with Deepti and Radha in bowling will be quite essential for the blue brigade.
India women will look to win the Asia Cup 2024. Moreover, it will be a perfect prelude for the team before the upcoming T20 World Cup in Bangladesh. India open their campaign against Pakistan. The game is set to take place on July 19 at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
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