The India women’s cricket team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, is set to kick off their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against New Zealand on October 4.

Women’s T20 World Cup 2024

The tournament, originally scheduled to take place in Bangladesh, has been moved to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to political instability in the region. The Indian squad will also face off against Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia in the group stage, with the top two teams advancing to the semi-finals. As the team prepares for this high-stakes tournament, former India batter Veda Krishnamurthy has identified a potential X-factor for the team.

Veda Krishnamurthy choice for the X-factor for India

During an interview on the Star Sports show Follow the Blues, Krishnamurthy praised Deepti Sharma‘s all-round abilities, particularly her bowling. Krishnamurthy highlighted that Deepti’s bowling will be crucial in the UAE conditions. She emphasized that if there is any turn on offer, Deepti could be especially effective. Deepti who made her international debut in 2014, has developed into a vital player for India, demonstrating consistent performance across formats.

“She definitely will be because her bowling will be very crucial, and if there is any turn on offer, I think she will be more deadly in those conditions as well. It’s been over a decade now, I think 2014 is when she debuted, and she has grown every year as a cricketer. She has come to a point where she has been a very crucial part of the Indian team, regardless of what the format is. Her bowling will be very crucial, and if there is any turn on offer, I think she will be more deadly in those conditions as well,” Krishnamurthy said.

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In addition to her bowling prowess, Deepti’s contributions with the bat are also significant. Krishnamurthy pointed out that Sharma has been in excellent form in recent franchise leagues and can provide crucial runs down the order.

“Her performance, even with the bat, if she is coming in at No. 7 or No. 8, she can get those crucial runs. So Deepti being in good form, she has been in good form with all these franchise leagues that she has played, she just needs to carry forward that form and do well for India,” Krishnamurthy concluded.

Impressive stats and recent form

For India, Deepti has accumulated 131 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 5.97 in 114 T20I innings. She has also scored 1,020 runs at a strike rate of 104.29 in 75 T20I matches. Her recent performances in the Women’s The Hundred 2024 further bolster her credentials. Playing for the London Spirit, Sharma scored 212 runs in eight matches and played a pivotal role with the bat, including hitting a match-winning six under pressure. Additionally, she took eight wickets at an economy rate of 6.85, showcasing her all-round capabilities.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

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