Harmanpreet Kaur relies on Bangladesh’s comparable circumstances to support India in the Twenty20 World Cup

May 14, New Delhi, India: With a recent 5-0 away victory against Bangladesh, India had fantastic pre-tournament preparation. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur believes Bangladesh’s comparable conditions to India’s will help women in blue in the T20 World Cup.

Later this year, the Indian team will go to Bangladesh for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, where they will attempt to win their first-ever ICC Women’s Championship.

Harmanpreet was there when India was chosen among Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka for the massive event, which takes place in October. The dates were announced earlier this month.

With a recent 5-0 hammering of Bangladesh away from home, Women in Blue had a fantastic lead-up to the tournament. Harmanpreet thinks this will help her squad a lot ahead of the ninth edition of the T20 showcase later this year.

According to the ICC, Harmanpreet said, “Yeah, it’s a bit similar to India and hopefully, in these conditions, we should do well.”

India and Bangladesh, two Asian neighbors, have been engaged in intense rivalry in international cricket in recent times, making them well-known rivals.

India has visited Bangladesh twice since the 2023 T20 World Cup: first in July for a three-match T20I series and an ODI series, and again most recently for a five-match T20I series. Harmanpreet thought her side would have a difficult fight in the T20 World Cup, but she also recognized Bangladesh’s home advantage and the support of their supporters.

Since Bangladesh will be playing at home, they will be more familiar with the circumstances than we are. There will undoubtedly be a mob behind them. Still, it’s always a thrilling experience to play against them. And maybe we’ll defeat them with ease,” Harmanpreet said.

In recent times, Harmanpreet’s team has grown to be a tough opponent for Australia, but the Aussies have proven to be too powerful, as seen by their big-stage victories against India in the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup final and the 2022 Commonwealth Games final. In the 2023 T20 World Cup semifinals, Australia defeated India.

“Australia, whom I’m looking forward to playing against, seems like they’ll be incredibly competitive. I’m extremely excited to play against them, and if we perform well against them, it will give us a lot of confidence,” the Indian skipper said.

Harmanpreet made the following prediction when asked to choose the semi-finalists for the next competition: “India, Australia, England, and South Africa.” Since all four of these teams have been playing quite well, perhaps they will make it to the semifinals, which will allow us to see some excellent cricket there.”

India, which just missed out on winning the ICC championship in important events like the 2017 World Cup final and the 2020 T20 World Cup, would also be under additional pressure. Harmanpreet, on the other hand, expressed confidence that her side will win tight games and that India will turn a new page in the future.

“I believe we have performed well in every ICC tournament. The one complaint is that we have lost several tight games. And perhaps all those tight games this time around if we can prevail and perform well as a team,” she said.

The main match, England vs. South Africa in Dhaka on October 3, will get underway. Twenty-nine matches altogether, spread over 19 days in Dhaka and Sylhet, are scheduled, with reserve days reserved for the semi-finals and finals, should they be needed.