India will be aiming to secure its first-ever senior ICC trophy at the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, which kicks off on October 3 in the UAE. The Women in Blue came heartbreakingly close to winning their maiden title in the 2020 edition but fell short in the final. That remains their best-ever finish in the T20 World Cup to date.
In 2020, under the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur, India delivered a dominant performance throughout the tournament. It started with a 17-run victory over host nation Australia and continued its winning streak against Group A rivals New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, finishing top of the table with a flawless record.
In the semifinal, India was set to face England, which had finished second in Group B. However, there were looming concerns of rain affecting the match, with forecasts predicting showers. Cricket Australia had requested the ICC to schedule a reserve day for the semifinals, but this was denied. Unfortunately, rain washed out India’s semifinal against England. Fortunately for India, its superior group-stage record ensured a place in the final. In the other semifinal, Australia defeated South Africa to reach its sixth consecutive final.
India entered its first-ever T20 World Cup final, with expectations high after a strong run in the tournament. However, it faced a crushing 85-run defeat at the hands of Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Despite the loss, there were individual highlights for India. Poonam Yadav, the standout leg spinner, took 10 wickets and was the only Indian named in the ICC T20 World Cup XI. Another bright spot was the emergence of 16-year-old Shafali Verma, who scored 171 runs and was named the 12th player in the tournament XI.
With nine players from the 2020 squad set to travel to the UAE, India will be determined to turn its painful memories into a triumphant campaign in 2024.
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