In the women’s T20 World Cup, which begins on Thursday, Australia is heavy favorites to win their seventh championship. This is their first tournament appearance since skipper Meg Lanning, a four-time champion, retired.
In their first competition since captain Meg Lanning, a four-time tournament winner, retired, Australia is heavy favorites to win their seventh crown at the women’s T20 World Cup, which gets underway on Thursday. With just two losses to their name since the competition’s inception in 2009, Alyssa Healy, the team’s new captain, has her work cut out for her in the United Arab Emirates. Although she was a part of all six of Australia’s previous championship victories, the 34-year-old wicketkeeper-batter stated she had “no real expectations” going into this year’s competition.
Healy stated in a piece for the International Cricket Council’s website, “It’s the best against the best and whoever can be most consistent or win those little moments along the way can get the job done.”
Despite this, she claimed that her side was full of fresh talent, citing Phoebe Litchfield, 21, and rising all-rounder Annabel Sutherland, 22, as players to watch.
Australia’s group opponents are New Zealand and India, two fierce rivals. After sweeping the Kiwis 3-0 in the Twenty20 format, they arrive in the UAE.
The Women’s Premier League’s resounding domestic victory since the 20-over competition’s debut season last year has raised hopes for India.
“If I talk about this team, we have a few players who have been playing for a long time and they know their roles really well,” Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain, stated.
“This is the best team we are going for a T20 World Cup with.”
India placed second in 2020 but lost in the 2018 and 2023 semifinals.Sophie Devine of New Zealand will resign her captaincy at the conclusion of the competition, having competed in every World Cup and finished in second place twice.
“The T20 World Cup’s been an important vehicle in the development and growth of the women’s game,” Devine stated.
The first group consists of Bangladesh, England, Scotland, South Africa, and the West Indies; Sri Lanka and Pakistan complete the group.
