BACK TO THE FUTURE?

When 16-year-old Shafali Verma was born in 2004, the international career of Mithali Raj was already five years old. Raj has since retired from T20Is, with Verma effectively taking up the mantle.

How the teenager fares in her first World Cup will be among the most fascinating titbits of this tournament.

She is far from the only source of excitement in a batting line-up full of talent: Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur are proven match-winners, while Jemimah Rodridgues is a burgeoning star. How far could they go?

THE ENIGMAS

2019 was an intriguing year in T20Is for Harmanpreet Kaur’s side. A whitewash of 2016 world T20 champions West Indies saw the best of an exciting Indian side.

Against England and New Zealand, however, they struggled – last year, at least. India ramped up their preparations for this tournament by beating England for just the fourth time ever during a tri-series that also featured Australia.

RECENT RESULTS (most recent last - to Feb 1): WWWLWWWWWW

SEMI-FINAL HABIT

Perennial underachievers, but finally now with the strength in depth to make a real impression in Australia.

Semi-final appearances in the first two tournaments were then followed by group-stage exits in 2012, 2014 and 2016.

As Harmanpreet Kaur’s side readies itself for the seventh edition of this competition, their record sits at 13 wins and 13 defeats, which sounds about right, all things considered.

WORLD CUP RECORD

2009: Semi-finals

2010: Semi-finals

2012: First round

2014: First round

2016: First round

2018: Semi-finals