After the Women's T20I Tri-Series, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian Women's team will shift their focus completely towards the T20 World Cup. Given that the U-19 Women's side recently helped India clinch their first ICC title in Women's cricket, the expectation will be just the same from the senior team. If they manage to win, it will a remarkable double but the road ahead won't be that easy for the Women in Blue.
To begin with, the Indian side will have to progress to the knockout round. They are in Group B of the tournament placed along side West Indies, Pakistan, England and Ireland. India's curtain raiser to their World Cup campaign would be the high-voltage match against Pakistan at Newlands in Cape Town on February 12 (Sunday).
The head-to-head record is stacked in favour of Team India who have been the more dominant team in this rivalry but Pakistan can't be underestimated either especially against India as they would want to come up with their best brand of cricket to hand their arch-rivals a defeat.
India vs Pakistan Fantasy Tips:
Ahead of the highly-anticipated clash, let's have a look at which players one could choose for a Fantasy 11 for this Womens T20 World Cup 2023 fixture.
Wicketkeepers: The Pro Fantasy Tip is to choose as many players who can fetch points with more than one dimension of their game as possible. It is in this regard that wicketkeepers become important as they will be able to fetch points both with the bat and by their catches, stumpings or run-out from behind the stumps.
India's Richa Ghosh becomes an automated choice among the keeper. She has been in great form in the in the warm-up match of the Womens T20 World Cup 2023 warm-up match and she should walk into this IND vs PAK Fantasy 11. From Pakistan, Muneeba Ali can also be considered for a place in the side.
Batters: For batters, the criterion being used is that those who can either have an impact both with the bat and ball or can face more number of deliveries to have a significant impact on the game. Hence, top-order batters in good form or batters who can chip in with an over or two get preference over the others.
Based on these considerations, India's Harmanpreet Kaur, Shafali Vema and Smriti Mandhana can be considered for a place in the Fantasy side. However, with a report suggesting Smriti is doubtful for the Pakistan match, ideally a Fantasy user must finalse the 11 only after the toss and team news. From Pakistan, Bishmah Maroof should be the first choice followed by someone like a Sidra Ameen.
All-rounders: Perhaps the most important for the balance of an all-round team are all-rounders. Remember, an ideal Fantasy 11 may not be an ideal playing 11 since the objective of this team is not to win a cricket match but to have players who can fetch points. The rules of Fantasy Cricket differ vastly. Thus stack as many all-rounders as possible. Priortise those who either bat up the order or are the bowling spearheads.
India's Deepti Sharma would certainly be one all-rounder who would make most Fantasy sides. From Pakistan, Nida Dar and Omaima Sohail can also change the complexion of the match. Pooja Vastrakar is another all-rounder who can be picked, if the balance of one's Fantasy team permits.
Bowlers: Aimen Anwar and Renuka Singh Thakur of Pakistan and India respectively are the best picks for the Fantasy team.
IND W vs PAK W Fantasy Team For Womens T20 World Cup 2023:
Richa Ghosh, Muneeba Ali, Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Bismah Maroof, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Nida Dar (vice-captain), Omaima Sohail, Smriti Mandhana (subject to fitness)/ Pooja Vastrakar, Renuka Singh Thakur, Aimen Anwar