NEW DELHI: Indian women’s cricket team, led by experienced Harmanpreet Kaur, will start their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign against New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Friday.
Recently, India have established themselves as the top contenders against mighty Australia, but they are yet to lift the trophy and reached the final only once in the 2020 edition.They remain one of the favourites to reach the semi-finals this year too.
New Zealand, who were runners-up in the first two editions of the tournament, have fallen down the pecking order in recent years. And the current form did not give any confidence in them getting out of the group which consists of both Australia, three-time defending champions, and India. India vs New Zealand in T20Is:
Historically, the New Zealand team has had the edge over India statistically over the years. The two teams have played each other 13 times in T20Is, with New Zealand winning as many as nine games. India have won only four matches against them.
But the two teams last played each other in February 2022, which New Zealand won by 18 runs. So they will be facing each other after more than two and half years. During this period a lot has changed.
IND vs NZ in T20Is: Matches 13 | NZ won 9 | IND won 4
2024 Form Guide
India: M 16 | W 11 | L 4 | NR 1
India are riding high this year, winning 11 of the 16 T20Is in 2024. They have lost just four matches, with one no result against South Africa. They have registered wins against Australia, Bangladesh, South Africa, Pakistan, USE and Nepal. Their four defeats are – two against Australia, one each against South Africa and Sri Lanka.
India’s loss against Sri Lanka in the Asian Cup final in July was their last T20I game before the T20 World Cup.
New Zealand: M 13 | W 1 | L 12
New Zealand can’t go any lower in terms of form as they are this year. They have won only once in 2024, against England in March, after playing 13 T20Is. They are quite low in confidence and are coming into the tournament after losing 10 consecutive matches.
It will be a herculean task for the New Zealand team to shock 2020 World Cup runners-up India, especially on the current form.