Cricket

India's Women's T20 World Cup 2024 preparations are underway with a fitness and conditioning camp in Bengaluru. The camp, which will focus on fielding and fitness, will feature a large squad of probables, excluding those currently playing in the Women's Hundred or Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL).The Indian team will not have any international cricket before the World Cup, which will be held from October 3 to 20. The India A team is currently in Australia for a multi-format series.Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, and Richa Ghosh will miss the first camp due to their Hundred commitments, while Jemimah Rodrigues will be playing in the WCPL for Trinbago Knight Riders.The camp will also include sessions with a sports psychologist, as requested by captain Harmanpreet Kaur. The psychologist will help players address challenges and cope with pressure and mental fatigue.The squad for the World Cup will reconvene in early September for an intense skill-based camp. India will be aiming to win the World Cup for the first time after falling short in previous tournaments, including the 2020 final and 2022 semi-finals against Australia.Shreyanka Patil, who suffered a finger injury during the Women's Asia Cup, is expected to recover in time for the tournament and will participate in the conditioning camp. Yastika Bhatia, who is recovering from a knee injury, is also expected to continue her rehabilitation at the NCA.The selectors are prioritizing a spin-based squad, but the uncertainty surrounding the host venue due to security concerns in Bangladesh may also impact the pace bowling group.Renuka Singh and Pooja Vastrakar are the regular pacers, while Arundhati Reddy is pushing for a spot after impressive performances in the domestic season and the WPL. Meghna Singh and Titas Sadhu are also in contention.The fast-bowling group will be guided by Troy Cooley, the former Australia fast bowler who is a bowling consultant at the NCA. The group will play intra-squad games in September before departing for the World Cup.

Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and Chamari Athapaththu have been nominated for the ICC Women's Player of the Month award for July 2024.Smriti Mandhana, India's vice-captain, is aiming for back-to-back success after winning the award in June. In July, she scored 273 runs in T20Is at an average of 68.25 and a strike rate of 139.28. She began with a career-best 149 in the one-off Test against South Africa, setting a record partnership with Shafali Verma. She also scored 100 runs in the T20I series against South Africa and 173 runs in the Women's Asia Cup.Shafali Verma, India's opening batter, scored 229 Test runs and 245 T20I runs in July. She became the second Indian woman to hit a double century in Tests, reaching the milestone in 194 balls, the fastest ever in Women's Tests. She also scored 205 in the first innings, the highest score for India in their record-breaking total of 603/6. In the T20I series against South Africa, she scored 45 runs, and in the Women's Asia Cup, she was the second-highest run-getter with 200 runs at a strike rate of 140.84.Chamari Athapaththu, Sri Lanka's skipper, led her team to victory in the Women's Asia Cup on home soil. She scored 304 runs during the competition at an average of 101.33 and a strike rate of 146.85. Her standout performances included an unbeaten 119 against Malaysia and two crucial half-centuries in the knockout stages.The ICC Women's Player of the Month award for July 2024 will be announced soon.

Indian Cricketers Shine in ICC T20I Rankings After Asia Cup TriumphIndia's star cricketers Smriti Mandhana and Renuka Singh Thakur have made significant strides in the latest ICC T20I rankings, reflecting their exceptional performances in the recently concluded Women's T20 Asia Cup.Mandhana, India's vice-captain and opening batter, has moved up to fourth place among batters with 743 rating points. Her crucial 60-run knock in the final against Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in India's victory.Thakur, a fast bowler, has ascended to fifth place among bowlers with 722 rating points. Her impressive performance in the Asia Cup, where she took seven wickets, pushed her up four places in the rankings. She now trails only England's Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, India's Deepti Sharma, and Pakistan's Sadia Iqbal.Radha Yadav has also made notable progress, climbing seven places to 13th position. Her six wickets in the Asia Cup made her the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament.At the top of the batters' rankings, Australia's Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath continue to lead, with West Indies' Hayley Matthews in third place. South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt and Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu are ranked sixth and seventh, respectively.Athapaththu, who was named Player of the Tournament, has made the biggest gain in the rankings, moving up three places to sixth with 705 points. Her exceptional performance in the final, where she scored 61 runs, earned her a career-best rating.Other notable movements include Pakistan's Muneeba Ali, who climbed six places to 35th among T20I batters, and Bangladesh's captain Nigar Sultana, who moved up three positions to 14th. Sri Lanka's Harshitha Samarawickrama reached the 20th position after top-scoring with 69 not out in the final.These rankings highlight the remarkable talent and contributions of these players to their respective teams' successes in the recent Women's T20 Asia Cup.

Defending champions India are poised to extend their dominance in the Women's Asia Cup, aiming for a record-extending eighth title as they face a spirited Sri Lanka in the final on Sunday.India has been unstoppable in this continental showpiece, crushing Pakistan by seven wickets, followed by facile victories over UAE (78 runs), Nepal (82 runs), and Bangladesh (10 wickets). Their top-order batters and bowlers have fired in unison, leaving their opponents with no chance to mount a fight.Openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma have amassed over 100 runs each at a healthy strike rate of over 140, providing India with solidity and quick starts. However, the management may be even more pleased with the bowlers' response to the challenge, particularly Deepti Sharma and Renuka Singh.Deepti is the leading wicket-taker of the event with nine scalps, while Renuka is third on the chart with seven. Their economy rate across four matches has been brilliant – 4.37 and 4.31 respectively. This has ensured that the opposition batters have no breathing space at the top or in the middle-overs, phases when Renuka and Deepti often operate.It has also aided other bowlers, as batters often look for relief shots against them. Left-arm spinner Radha Yadav is a prime example, having taken six wickets at an economy of 5.5, feeding on the success of her senior colleagues.While there is no palpable worry in the Indian camp, they may be slightly concerned about the lack of batting time for skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues. Harmanpreet has batted just twice in three matches, despite making a riveting 66 in one of them, while Rodrigues is yet to hit top gear in three innings. The think tank will hope that these experienced campaigners can find their range if the situation demands it."They might not have got that much time in the middle, but everyone is working hard at nets, and I am sure they will fire when the time comes," wicketkeeper batter Richa Ghosh had said.On the other hand, Sri Lanka is also undefeated in this event and has scored the biggest victory in terms of runs – a 144-run toweling of Malaysia in the group stage. The primary reason behind their supremacy is the fine form of skipper Chamari Athapathuthu, the leading run-scorer here with 243 runs.However, there is a bleaker side to it. Apart from Athapathuthu, none of their batters have scored over 100 runs, with Rushmi Gunarathne a distant second with 91 runs. Their bowling too offers a similar story. Except for off-spinner Kavisha Dilhari (7 wickets, economy 5.35), other Lankan bowlers have failed to make an impact as yet.In that context, the Islanders will require a quick all-round improvement against a settled India to have a smidgeon of chance even to stretch them.

India's women's cricket team secured a commanding victory over Bangladesh in the semifinals of the Women's Asia Cup, advancing to their ninth final appearance. Led by Renuka Singh's three-wicket haul and Smriti Mandhana's blistering half-century, India cruised to a 10-wicket triumph.Bangladesh, opting to bat first, faced an early setback as Renuka Singh dismissed Dilara Akter in the opening over. The Indian pacer continued her dominance, removing Ishma Tanjim and Murshida Khatun in quick succession, leaving Bangladesh reeling at 25 for three.Captain Nigar Sultana attempted to anchor the innings, but found limited support from her teammates. Left-arm spinner Radha Yadav provided excellent support to Renuka, claiming three wickets of her own. Bangladesh's innings eventually folded for a meager 80 runs.In response, India's openers, Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, made light work of the chase. Mandhana showcased her class with elegant drives and a towering six, while Shafali played with characteristic aggression. The duo remained unbeaten, guiding India to victory in just 11 overs.Mandhana's 55 not out off 39 deliveries included nine boundaries and a six, while Shafali contributed an unbeaten 26 off 28 balls. India's fielding was also impressive, with Shafali making a diving catch to dismiss Rabeya Khan.India will now face the winner of the second semifinal between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the final on Sunday. The defending champions will be aiming to extend their dominance in the tournament, having won the previous six editions.

Indian Women Shine in ICC WT20I RankingsNew Delhi: India's star batter Smriti Mandhana has maintained her impressive fifth position in the latest ICC Women's T20I Player Rankings, released on Tuesday. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and the explosive Shafali Verma have both made significant gains, moving up to a joint eleventh place.Mandhana's consistent performances have kept her among the elite batters in the world. She has been a key figure in India's recent successes, including their victory in the Commonwealth Games and their runner-up finish in the T20 World Cup.Harmanpreet Kaur has also been in fine form, leading India to several victories in the past year. Her aggressive batting style and leadership skills have earned her a place among the top batters in the world.Shafali Verma, the young batting sensation, has made a meteoric rise in the rankings. Her fearless approach and ability to score runs quickly have made her a valuable asset for India. She has jumped four spots to join Harmanpreet Kaur at eleventh place.Jemimah Rodrigues, another talented Indian batter, is ranked 19th, while the big-hitting Richa Ghosh is 24th. These four Indian players in the top 20 reflect the depth and quality of India's batting lineup.In the bowlers' rankings, off-spinner Deepti Sharma remains steady at number three. Her ability to take wickets and control the run rate has made her one of the most effective bowlers in the world.Seamer Renuka Singh has made a significant jump to number nine. Her pace and accuracy have been instrumental in India's recent victories. Left-arm spinner Radha Yadav is ranked 20th.The young Shreyanka Patil has also made an impressive rise, moving up 19 spots to 41st place. Her leg-spin bowling has caught the attention of selectors and fans alike.Englishwoman Sophie Ecclestone continues to top the bowlers' rankings, followed by Australia's Megan Schutt and New Zealand's Amelia Kerr.The ICC WT20I rankings are a reflection of the performances of players in the past 12 months. The Indian women's team has been in excellent form during this period, and their players' high rankings are a testament to their hard work and dedication.

Smriti Mandhana's Heartwarming Gesture for Specially Abled Sri Lankan FanDuring the Women's Asia Cup in Dambulla, Team India star opener Smriti Mandhana brought joy to a specially abled Sri Lankan fan named Adeesha Herath. After India's triumph in their opening match against Pakistan, Mandhana took time out to interact with Herath and presented her with a mobile phone.The heartwarming moment was captured on camera and shared on social media by Sri Lanka Cricket. In the video, Mandhana can be seen posing for photographs with Herath and engaging in a friendly conversation.Mandhana's gesture was met with praise from fans and fellow cricketers alike. It highlighted the importance of inclusivity and the power of sports to bring people together.On the field, India dominated their opening match against Pakistan. After restricting their opponents to a modest 108, India chased down the target with ease, winning by seven wickets with 35 balls to spare.Openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana led the charge for India, scoring 40 and 45 runs respectively. The victory sets the stage for India's next match against the United Arab Emirates on July 21.

Indian Openers Dominate in Women's Asia Cup OpenerIn the inaugural match of the Women's Asia Cup 2024, Indian openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana showcased their aggressive batting prowess, leading their team to a comfortable victory over Pakistan.Chasing a modest target of 109 runs, Verma and Mandhana set the tone for India's chase with an explosive start. Verma, known for her power-hitting, contributed a crucial 40 runs, while Mandhana complemented her efforts with a well-crafted 45 runs.The duo's partnership was a masterclass in aggressive batting. They consistently found the boundary with an array of powerful strokes, including fours and sixes. Their dominance was evident in the sixth over, where they amassed 15 runs off Tuba Hassan's bowling, including two fours and a towering six.Mandhana and Verma displayed a remarkable understanding of each other's strengths, rotating the strike effectively and capitalizing on scoring opportunities. Their ability to find gaps in the field and clear the boundary with ease kept the Pakistani fielders on their toes.The aggressive approach adopted by the Indian openers was a calculated risk that paid off handsomely. It allowed them to maintain a healthy run rate and keep the required run rate within manageable limits. Their ability to score freely also provided the subsequent batters with the luxury of playing their natural game without undue pressure.Despite various strategies employed by the Pakistani bowlers, the Indian openers remained undeterred, showcasing their skill, temperament, and determination to succeed. Their partnership not only set the tone for India's successful chase but also highlighted the depth and quality of the Indian batting lineup.

The Women's Asia Cup 2023 kicks off with a highly anticipated clash between defending champions India and arch-rivals Pakistan on Friday. The tournament serves as a crucial preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup in October.India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, enters the competition as the team to beat. They have won the Asia Cup three times in the T20 format and four times in the 50-over format. Their record against Pakistan in T20Is is also impressive, with 11 wins in 14 matches.Pakistan, on the other hand, has undergone a significant squad overhaul since their disappointing tour of England in May. They will be short on game-time and confidence, but they will be eager to prove their mettle against their arch-rivals.India's batting will be spearheaded by Smriti Mandhana, who has been in excellent form. The bowling attack has also been impressive, with pacers Pooja Vastrakar and Renuka Singh leading the charge. Spinners Radha Yadav, Deepti Sharma, and Shreyanka Patil provide depth and variety.Pakistan will rely on skipper Nida Dar, who is a seasoned campaigner. Aliya Riaz and Fatima Sana are key players in the batting lineup, while Nashra Sandhu and Diana Baig are experienced bowlers.Group A also includes Nepal and the United Arab Emirates. Nepal is returning to the competition after a six-year absence, while UAE is making their second consecutive appearance. Both teams will be aiming to make an impact and qualify for the semifinals.The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, which will be played on October 11 and 12. The final is scheduled for October 14.