New Zealand will host India in the 2022 Women's World Cup on Thursday. New Zealand, one of the favourites in the tournament, were stunned by West Indies in their first match before bouncing back to beat Bangladesh. The Indian cricketers, meanwhile won the match against Pakistan comfortably, and the internet as their photographs and videos with Fatima, the daughter of Bismah Maroof, went viral.
India and New Zealand also just finished an ODI series ahead of the World Cup, a series New Zealand won 4-1. India won the series 1-4, and their batters did not perform particularly well against Pakistan either. Only Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma got starts, and then they had to depend on a record partnership between Pooja Vastrakar and Sneh Rana to bail them out.
India will expect Shafali Verma to find form at the top, helping Mandhana build a partnership. Their bowlers had an easy outing on Sunday, but New Zealand's batting depth will pose a sterner challenge.
The defeat against West Indies has complicated things for New Zealand. West Indies have beaten England as well, and are sudden favourites for a semi-final berth. Assuming Australia's qualification, New Zealand, England, India and South Africa will be fighting for the remaining two spots. New Zealand need to beat India.
Captain Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr and Amy Satterthwaite form a very formidable top order. All four are in form, with a string of big scores of late. They will expect to dominate the familiar Indian bowlers and seize upper hand. The bowling will depend on Jess Kerr, Lea Tahuhu and Hannah Rowe, along with the all-rounders, Amelia Kerr and Satterthwaite, who picked up three wickets in the last match.
Likely XIs
India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Mithali Raj (c), Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh (wk), Sneh Rana, Pooja Vastrakar, Jhulan Goswami, Meghna Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad.
New Zealand: Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr, Amy Satterthwaite, Lea Tahuhu, Maddy Green, Katey Martin (wk), Jess Kerr, Hannah Rowe, Hayley Jansen, Frances Mackay.
Fantasy Prediction
- Choosing between Devine, Bates, Amelia Kerr and Satterthwaite is difficult, but Amelia's skills will give her an edge.
- Among Indian batters, Mandhana looked the most comfortable, but back Raj and Kaur to return to form as well.
- Both teams have some in-form bowlers like Jess Kerr, Tahuhu, Goswami and Gayakwad.
Fantasy XI
Richa Ghosh; Suzie Bates (c), Sophie Devine (vc), Smriti Mandhana; Amelia Kerr, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana; Lea Tahuhu, Jess Kerr, Jhulan Goswami, Rajeshwari Gayakwad