Now is the time for India to end their T20 World Cup final hoodoo

WOMEN'S T20 WORLD CUP PREVIEW - INDIA: The Cricketer takes a look at the strengths, weaknesses and key players for Harmanpreet Kaur's side ahead of this year's tournament in Australia...

Coach: Wookeri Raman

Captain: Harmanpreet Kaur

Last time: Semi-finals

Previous best: Semi-finals (2009, 2010, 2018)

Key players

Smriti Mandhana: Despite being one of just four players to accumulate more than 400 T20 runs in 2019 (205 at 31.15), Mandhana endured a far from tranquil year. Injury problems and inconsistent form meant it could have been so much better for the 23-year-old.

That she was unhappy with her form despite recording some impressive results is a testament to her desire to continue to improve.

Mandhana used the chance to get back into form in the West Indies with a half-century and 30 not out but she will need to up her game.

^{Captain Harmanpreet Kaur}

Jemimah Rodrigues: The best T20I batter outside of Australasia, according to the ICC, and it is fair to say that the India middle-order will rest significantly on Rodrigues' shoulders.

Denied the chance to hone her skills in the Women's Big Bash, there is no doubt she possesses the star quality capable of guiding her side to the knock-out phase.

All this pressure comes at just 19 years old, and barely 24 months on from her international debut.

Aside from her success with the national team, which sees her average a touch below 30, with six fifties in T20Is, she showcased her ability to adapt to alien conditions with 401 runs for Yorkshire Diamonds in the Kia Super League in England.

WOMEN'S CRICKET NEWS

Poonam Yadav: The legspinner offers some much-needed experience in among a squad full of youthful exuberance. Yadav enjoyed a fine spell of recent form, taking 39 ODI wickets in the last two years.

But there are concerns that as a wrist-spinner she could be dispatched by the time she touches down in Australia.

However, a career average of 14.33 in T20Is albeit from only two outings Down Under does offer encouragement she possesses the skill required to succeed. That the BCCI recognised her as India's premier female cricketer in 2019 says plenty about her importance to this team. 

^{Legspinner Poonam Yadav}

Strengths

This squad is now full of genuine star players known the world over. Mandhana, Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur will give opponents plenty to be concerned about.

Perhaps most important, however, has simply been the upward trajectory this side have been on.

Runners-up in the 2017 50-over World Cup and semi-finalists in the T20 event for the first time since 2010 last time out suggests they are now a force to be reckoned with.

Weaknesses

As with many of the sub-continent sides, the lack of experience on Australian pitches will really hurt them.

Mandhana and Kaur have previously played in the Women's Big Bash, but preventing the duo and Rodrigues from participating in last year's competition was a mistake.

It will be a case of sink or swim for much of the rest of the squad.

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

Squad

Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Veda Krishnamurthy, Richa Ghosh, Tania Bhatia, Poonam Yadav, Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gaikwad, Shikha Pandey, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy

Fixtures

Friday, February 21: Australia v India (Sydney Showground)

Monday, February 24: India v Bangladesh (WACA)

Thursday, February 27: India v New Zealand (Junction Oval)

Saturday, February 29: India v Sri Lanka (Junction Oval)