The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 is about to start on 10 February in 3 venues in South Africa namely Cape Town, Paarl, and Port Elizabeth. It promises to be an exciting tournament with 10 teams divided into two groups.
Each team has some top-quality batters that can change the course of the game with their aggressive batting. After playing round-robin matches, two teams in each group will qualify for the semi-finals.
It will be a closely contested tournament as Australia would look to defend its title, which it won in 2020.
5. Hayley Mathews
The West Indies women’s team has struggled a lot with their batting. Hayley Mathews has been named the captain of the T20 World Cup 2023. With lack of power in the line-up, the onus will be on Mathews to do the bulk of the scoring.
Matthews needs to anchor the innings along with hitting boundaries in the first six overs. With no Deandra Dottin in the squad, Matthews is an experienced player.
4. Harmanpreet Kaur
Harmanpreet Kaur has been struggling for form in recent times. She is known for her power-hitting after settling down.
She would look to lead from the front with her explosive batting and make sure that the Indian team win matches. Her performances in T20 World Cups has been decent enough with 458 runs from 30 matches (24 innings) with the best score of 103 against New Zealand in the 2018 edition played in West Indies.
3. Beth Mooney
Beth Mooney has been in excellent form with her ability to change the momentum of the game with her attacking batting. She opens the innings and can create an impact with both spinners and pacers.
She was in great touch during the ICC Women’s World Cup 2020. Mooney finished as the leading run-getter with 259 runs from 6 matches with 3 half-centuries. After losing the opening match against India, Mooney upped the ante and helped Australia win the title.
2. Sophie Devine
Sophie Devine is known for her hard-hitting abilities and provide solid starts to the White Ferns side. She has been the pillar of the New Zealand women’s team for a long time. Devine would be looking to showcase her domination against Australia, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka sides in their Group ensuring that White Ferns reach the semi-finals side.
Devine looked impressive with her batting in the 2020 edition of the World Cup. She made 132 runs from 4 matches including 1 half-century with the best score of 75 not out. Despite her efforts, White Ferns could not qualify for the semi-finals.
1. Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana has been the backbone of India’s batting line-up with her aggressive batting at the top along with Shafali Verma. The stylish left-handed can make use of the first six overs and put the opponent team under immense pressure.
She will play an important role for Team India in the upcoming tournament to provide explosive starts making life tough. Right before the World Cup, Mandhana looked impressive in the Tri-series involving hosts South Africa and West Indies.