Women's T20 World Cup: Six Players To Watch Out For

As the 10 teams prepare for the start of the 2024 T20 Women's World Cup, here's a look at six players who are at the forefront of their team's hopes of lifting the trophy on October 20.

Australia:

Beth Mooney - The seasoned Australia opener is top of the ICC's T20 batter rankings going into the World Cup and the six-time champions will be relying on her once again at the top of the order. A key member of the sides that won the last three editions of the T20 World Cup, Mooney was named 'Player of the Series' in 2020 after nailing an unbeaten 78 in the final as the Aussies saw off India. Having clattered 50 from 30 balls in the warm-up win over England in Dubai, there is every reason to think the 30-year-old is primed to add to her two T20I hundreds. 

England:

Sophie Ecclestone - The 25-year-old left-arm spinner from Cheshire made her international debut eight years ago. She is now the highest-ranked bowler in the ICC's T20 and ODI rankings and in June she became the youngest bowler to take 100 ODI wickets. Nearly six feet tall, Ecclestone brings accuracy, economy and guile to the attack, making her a key weapon for skipper Heather Knight. "I love captaining her," says Knight. "The control she gives you as a captain and the attacking threat she gives you on both edges is really cool."

India:

Deepti Sharma - Notorious to some for her controversial 'Mankad' dismissal of England's Charlie Dean in an ODI two years ago, Deepti Sharma is celebrated more widely for the all-round excellence of her game. The 27-year old, who bats left-handed and bowls right-arm off-spin, is ranked second among T20 bowlers worldwide and the third best all-rounder. India have never won a women's World Cup and Sharma believes victory in the UAE