India captain Harmanpreet Kaur will be seen batting at number three in the women’s T20 World Cup 2024, revealed head coach Amol Muzumdar on Thursday, October 3. Notably, India will start their campaign against New Zealand on Friday, October 4 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.
Ahead of the tournament, the India skipper was seen batting at three in the warm-up fixtures against West Indies and South Africa as she registered scores of 1 (3) and 10 (13). Being quizzed about the number three batter for the team in the tournament, Muzumdar asked the media to go through the warm-up matches scorecard to know about the number three batter.
The India head coach revealed that they had decided on their number three in the training camp ahead of the world cup in Bengaluru.
“Absolutely. Not just the warm-up games, but we had already decided back in India, in the camps that happened before we set off for the World Cup. We had a lovely camp in Bangalore. We had decided there itself. These pre-World Cup matches absolutely stamped that for us. Is it a surprise? No. If you can guess, you can go through the scorecards and you will find it,” said Muzumdar in the pre-match press conference.
In the lead up to the tournament, Yastika Bhatia was India’s number three batter. However, her injury ahead of the Bangladesh tour forced the team management to look for other options. Even though the 23-year-old recovered in time to make it to the World Cup squad, Harmanpreet is set to take her place at number three in the mega event.
WPL has given us a strong base to find players: Muzumdar
Further speaking ahead, Muzumdar also highlighted the impact of Women’s Premier League on women’s cricket in India.
“Some of the players that have come into the Indian squad here at the World Cup are the product of what WPL is. Of course, not undermining the first-class [domestic] cricketers back home. But WPL has given us a strong base to find players,” he added.
Meanwhile, India will look to start strong against New Zealand and get their campaign on a high as they find themselves in a strong group including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Australia as well.
