The atmosphere is electrifying as the Indian women’s cricket team gets ready to face off against their Bangladesh counterparts in an intense five-match T20I cricket series. The opening clash of the series is scheduled for Sunday, April 28, with the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium playing host to the eagerly anticipated opener and all subsequent matches.
The Indian team approaches this series with confidence, carrying with them fond memories from their last T20I outing on Bangladeshi soil, where they secured a series victory with a 2-1 scoreline. This time around, the Indian selection committee has strategically assembled a team with a strong spin bowling contingent, an acknowledgment of their expectation for the slow, spinning pitches characteristic of the region.
At the vanguard of this spin-centric warfare is Deepti Sharma, the team’s captain and an established allrounder. Supporting her is an impressive lineup of spinners, including leg-spinner Asha Shobhana and off-break bowling allrounder Shreyanka Patil, alongside left-arm orthodox spinners Radha Yadav and Saika Ishaque.
These bowlers are hitting their strides at just the right time, as evidenced by their recent performances in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Shreyanka and Asha finished as the top two wicket-takers in the second season of WPL, boasting 13 and 12 wickets respectively. Radha Yadav is also making her way back into the side after a noteworthy WPL season, during which she secured ten wickets as the second-leading wicket-taker for the Delhi Capitals.
The batting department is not to be overshadowed, with high expectations placed on the youthful exuberance of Shafali Verma and the robust Richa Ghosh, who both have enjoyed remarkable success during the Women’s Premier League’s sophomore season. Shafali, with 309 runs in her kitty across nine games, was the third-leading run-scorer of the season, her runs coming at an explosive strike rate of 156.85. Richa, not far behind, battered the bowlers at a rate of 141.98.
Veterans Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana are anticipated to anchor the batting lineup, bringing steadiness and experience, especially with the absence of Jemimah Rodrigues, a notable omission in the Indian camp.
For cricket aficionados eager to catch every ball and run of the tournament, the live streaming of the Bangladesh women vs India women T20I series will be available on the FanCode app and website, ensuring fans do not miss a moment of the action. However, for fans preferring the television experience, the series will not be broadcast on any TV channel in India, making digital streaming the go-to medium to follow the matches.
As for the rosters, Team India will feature prominent names including Harmanpreet Kaur as captain, Smriti Mandhana as the vice-captain, and a lineup of both seasoned campaigner and budding talents ready to take the field. Bangladesh, led by captain Nigar Sultana, will have its array of skilled players looking to deliver performances that resonate with their home crowd’s aspirations.
Both squads are as follows:
India squad:
Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, D Hemalatha, Sajana Sajeevan, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Radha Yadav, Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Amanjot Kaur, Shreyanka Patil, Saika Ishaque, S Asha, Renuka Singh Thakur, Titas Sadhu.
Bangladesh squad:
Nigar Sultana (captain), Nahida Akter, Murshida Khatun, Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun, Fahima Khatun, Marufa Akter, Fariha Islam, Shorifa Khatun, Dilara Akter, Rubya Haider, Habiba Islam
With the stage set for an epic clash between these talented squads, the cricketing community is brimming with anticipation for what promises to be an exhilarating T20I series.
