ICC Women’s T20I Team of the Year 2024 announced, Smriti Mandhana among 3 Indians featured

The International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed the Women’s T20I Team of the Year 2024 on Saturday, January 25. Three Indian players, including opener Smriti Mandhana, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, and all-rounder Deepti Sharma, have been named in the prestigious Women’s T20I Team of the Year 2024.

Women's cricket saw an action-packed year in 2024, including the T20 World Cup and the Asia Cup. Two South Africans and one player each from Sri Lanka, England, West Indies, Australia, Ireland, and Pakistan were included in the squad. South African batter Laura Wolvaardt has been named the captain.

Smriti Mandhana, Laura Wolvaardt Named Openers of Women’s T20I Team of the Year 2024

Smriti Mandhana had a stellar run of form throughout 2024. She scored 763 runs in 23 T20Is at an average of 42.38, with a strike rate of 126.53, including eight half-centuries. Smriti Mandhana played a key role in helping India reach the Asia Cup final and scored three consecutive half-centuries against West Indies.

Laura Wolvaardt, named captain of the ICC Women’s T20I Team of the Year, was the leading run-scorer (223 runs) in the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup and played a key role in South Africa’s journey to the final. Wolvaardt has been picked as the second opener of the team.

Chamari Athapaththu, Hayley Matthews, Amelia Kerr Among Middle Order

Sri Lanka veteran Chamari Athapaththu, West Indies' Hayley Matthews, New Zealand's Amelia Kerr, and England's Nat Sciver-Brunt featured in the middle order. Athapaththu led the team to an Asia Cup victory, amassing 720 runs, including two hundreds and four fifties, while also taking 21 wickets.

Hayley Matthews contributed with 538 runs and 14 wickets in 16 matches. Amelia Kerr was named Player of the Tournament in the Women's T20 World Cup, scoring 387 runs and dismissing 29 batters for the White Ferns. Nat Sciver-Brunt scored 423 runs for England in 16 matches and also took seven wickets.

Richa Ghosh, and Deepti Sharma Included in the Women's T20I Team of the Year 2024

Richa Ghosh impressed as a wicketkeeper-batter in 2024 with her aggressive style in the lower middle order. Richa scored 365 runs at an average of 33.18 and a strike rate of 156.65. She kicked off the year with a match-winning unbeaten 64 runs off 29 balls at an explosive strike rate of 220.68 against UAE.

Deepti Sharma made a significant impact as an all-rounder, taking 30 wickets at an average of 17.80 and an economy rate of 6.01. Her recorded figures of 3/13 against Nepal and 3/20 against Pakistan in the Women’s Asia Cup. The 27-year-old all-rounder took wickets in every match of the last year.

The remaining players in the squad are South Africa's Marizanne Kapp, Ireland's Orla Prendergast, and Pakistan's Sadia Iqbal. Laura Wolvaardt, Smriti Mandhana, Chamari Athapaththu, Hayley Matthews, and Deepti Sharma, along with Kapp, were also named to the ICC Women's ODI Team of the Year 2024.

ICC Women's T20I Team of the Year 2024: Smriti Mandhana, Laura Wolvaardt (C), Chamari Athapaththu, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews, Amelia Kerr, Richa Ghosh, Marizanne Kapp, Deepti Sharma, Orla Prendergast, and Sadia Iqbal.

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