ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020: Match 9, Group A, India vs New Zealand: Dream11 Fantasy Cricket Tips – Playing XI, Pitch Report & Injury Update

Match Details

The 9th match of ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will be played between India and New Zealand at the Junction Oval in Melbourne.

The match starts at 03:00 PM local time (04:00 AM GMT) (09:30 AM IST). This match will be live on Star Sports 1/2. Live Streaming will be available on Hotstar.

Preview for Dream11 Fantasy

The caravan of the 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup rolls on and the 9th match will see the Women in Blue lock horns with the White Ferns in Melbourne. After having notched up back-to-back victories against defending champions Australia (by 17 runs) and Bangladesh (by 18 runs), the Women in Blue have been on a rampage thus far and will be looking to take another giant stride towards sealing the semi-final spot when they take on New Zealand on Thursday.

India’s strength-as always- in this tournament has been the whirlwind starts provided by the likes of Shafali Verma and the top-order and their troika of spinners-led by the vile Poonam Yadav, who has taken 7 wickets in 2 matches. But the issue has once again been the middle-order and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s lack of runs has been at the heart of the issue.

The last time these two sides met each other in a T20 World Cup fixture, skipper Harmanpreet blazed away with a whirlwind 101 to steer her side to victory.

Weather Condition/Report

It is expected to be a bright and sunny day in Melbourne on Thursday. While the temperature is set to hover between 18-20 degrees Celsius, the humidity is set to be around 61%. Chances of rain- 10℅

Pitch Condition/Report

The past four games at the Junction Oval in the recently concluded tri-series between India, Australia, and England saw a fair balance between the bat and the ball. While India chased down 173 in one of the fixtures against Australia, the targets of 132 and 155 were ably defended as both fast bowlers and spinners got enough purchase from the track.

Average first innings score: 146 [In the last 4 women’s T20Is played at the venue]

Record of chasing teams: Won – 2, Lost – 2

Injury and Availability News

Smriti Mandhana has recovered from her illness and is set to be available for the game.

Probable Playing XIs

India Women

Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Deepti Sharma, Veda Krishnamurthy, Shikha Pandey, Taniya Bhatia (WK), Arundhati Reddy, Poonam Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad

Bench: Richa Ghosh, Harleen Deol, Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav

New Zealand Women

Sophie Devine (C), Rachel Priest (WK), Suzie Bates, Maddy Green, Katey Martin, Katie Perkins, Amelia Kerr, Hayley Jansen, Lea Tahuhu, Leigh Kasperek, Jess Kerr

Bench: Anna Peterson, Lauren Down, Rosemary Mair, Holly Huddlestone

Top Picks

India Women-  With Smriti Mandhana set to make a comeback after recovering from illness, the onus of giving India a whirlwind stand will once again be on her and the swashbuckler Shafali Verma, who racked up a whirlwind 17-ball 39 in the last game. Jemimah Rodrigues has chipped-in with valuable contributions while Veda Krishnamurthy showed signs of getting back into some sort of form when she racked up an 11-ball 20 against Bangladesh.

India’s spin-trio of Poonam Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Deepti Sharma will once again be the spearheads of the bowling unit but don’t forget Shikha Pandey, who is the second-highest wicket-taker- 5 wickets at 5.60- in the tournament thus far.

New Zealand Women- The White Ferns will once again bank on Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates to spearhead their batting unit. Since the last T20 WC, Devine (525 runs at 87.50 and a strike-rate of 142.66 with the help of six fifties and one hundred) and Suzie Bates (201 runs at 33.50 and a strike-rate of 110.43 with one half-century) have scored more than 200 runs while others haven’t even managed 100.

Devine scored 75 in the last game to take her tally to a world record six half-centuries in as many games, and New Zealand will hope that their captain can carry that form against India. As far as bowling is concerned, Hayley Jensen (3-16) and Amelia Kerr (2-22) while the likes of Lea Tahuhu (1-18) claimed one.

Captain and Vice-Captain Selection

Captain – Sophie Devine, Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Poonam Yadav

Vice-Captain –  Suzie Bates, Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma

Suggested Playing XI No.1 for Fantasy Cricket

Keeper – Taniya Bhatia

Batters – Suzie Bates, Smriti Mandhana, Veda Krishnamurthy, Shafali Verma 

All-Rounders- Sophie Devine (C), Hayley Jansen, Harmanpreet Kaur

Bowlers-  Lea Tahuhu, Shikha Pandey, Poonam Yadav (VC)

Suggested Playing XI No.2 for Fantasy Cricket

Keeper – Rachael Priest

Batters –   Maddy Green, Smriti Mandhana (C), Jemimah Rodrigues Shafali Verma 

All-Rounders- Harmanpreet Kaur (VC), Amelia Kerr, Deepti Sharma

Bowlers-  Leigh Kasperek, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav

Expert Advice

The last time these two sides locked horns in a T20 WC fixture, the White Ferns were blown away courtesy a whirlwind hundred by Harmanpreet Kaur. Kaur is going through a rough patch but she is too good a player to miss out consistently. Picking her as captain/vice-captain in the Grand League team could be a good punt.

Probable Winners

India Women is expected to come out as the winners.

Disclaimer: This team is based on the understanding, analysis and instinct of the author. While selecting your team, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.