On Saturday, three Indian cricketers were recognized in the ICC Women’s T20I Team of the Year for 2024: Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, and Deepti Sharma. This team features players from various countries, but the Indians shined the most. Besides them, the team also includes two players from South Africa and one each from Sri Lanka, England, West Indies, Australia, Ireland, and Pakistan.
Smriti Mandhana had an impressive year, starting with a great score of 54 against Australia and ending with three half-centuries against the West Indies at home. She scored a total of 763 runs in 23 matches, making her the second-best in ICC Women’s T20I batting rankings. She hit eight half-centuries and had a high score of 77, with an average of 42.38 and a strike rate of 126.53.
Richa Ghosh excited fans with her powerful batting last year. She began the year with a stunning 64 not out off just 29 balls against the UAE, accumulating 365 runs in 21 games at an average of 33.18 and a jaw-dropping strike rate of 156.65.
Deepti Sharma played a crucial role for India as an all-rounder. She took 30 wickets this year with an average of 17.80 and an impressive economy rate of 6.01. Her best performances included taking 3 wickets for just 13 runs against Nepal and 3 wickets for 20 runs against Pakistan in the Women’s Asia Cup.
The ICC team is led by South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, who had fantastic performances, including a memorable not out score of 58 against Australia. Marizanne Kapp, also from South Africa, scored a great 75 against Australia and picked up 11 wickets with her bowling.
Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu deserves recognition for her two centuries, including 119 not out in the Women’s Asia Cup final against India. The team also includes Hayley Matthews from West Indies, England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Australia’s Melie Kerr, who took 29 wickets and was named Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup. Rounding out the team is Ireland’s Orla Prendergast and Pakistan’s Sadia Iqbal.
ICC Women’s T20I Team of 2024:
– Laura Wolvaardt (c), Marizanne Kapp (both SA)
– Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma (all India)
– Chamari Athapaththu (SL)
– Hayley Matthews (WI)
– Nat Sciver-Brunt (Eng)
– Melie Kerr (Aus)
– Orla Prendergast (Ire)
– Sadia Iqbal (Pak)
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