India include Asha Sobhana, Arundhati Reddy for the first T20 World Cup clash

The White Ferns, led by Sophie Devine, won the toss and decided to bat first at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in their first game of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 against the Indian women's team.

Both Group A teams are playing their first contest of the marquee tournament. This is the second game in Group A after Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 31 runs in Sharjah. 

India had a question mark over the number three spot, but coach Amol Muzumdar announced in the pre-match press conference that skipper Harmanpreet Kaur will occupy that position. 

Meanwhile, they have included three pacers in their bowling lineup, including Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Thakur and all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar. India have also included leg spinner Asha Sobhana in the XI, and haven’t gone for Radha Yadav’s left-arm spin.  

Playing XIs

India women: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh(w), Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, Renuka Thakur Singh 

New Zealand women: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine(c), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze(w), Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson

What did the captains say 

Harmanpreet Kaur: "We just want to go out there and play good cricket. All the players back themselves. It's the best team and the best team we have in this format. We have a balanced side. We have a long batting line-up as well. It's all about going out there and enjoying ourselves."

Sophie Devine: "We're going to bat first. I've been really happy about the way the team's gone about it's business. Results haven't gone our way, but we're always learning. Looking to put our best foot forward in this one. It's going to be slower, there's still runs in it. Still opportunity to be attacking."

Pitch Report and Conditions

Nasser Hussain is near the deck. He says that it has cooled down as compared to the first game of the day and the temperatures will be around 31 degrees. The square boundaries are 53 metres and 63 metres with the straight boundary being 73 metres long. WV Raman agrees with him in the pitch report that the slight breeze blowing across will mean that dew is unlikely to set in. Looking at the grass coverage, Raman opined that there will be moderate pace and bounce and it could turn later on in the game.  

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