The ICC Women’s T20I Team of the Year 2024 includes three Indian players—Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, and Deepti Sharma—who delivered superb performances throughout the year. They were brilliant in their roles but Team India had a disappointing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup nonetheless, where they failed to even qualify for the knockouts. Interestingly, only one T20 World Cup champion has been included in the team and guess what? There is no Australian as well.
Smriti Mandhana: India’s batting mainstay
Smriti Mandhana proved to be India’s most consistent batter in 2024, amassing 763 runs across 23 matches at an average of 42.38 and a strike rate of 126.53. The left-handed opener smashed eight half-centuries, including a series of three consecutive fifties against West Indies to close out the year. Her ability to anchor the innings and accelerate when required earned her the second spot in the ICC Women’s T20I Batting Rankings. Mandhana even captained India wonderfully well against the Irish challenge recently.
Richa Ghosh: Power-hitter
Known for her explosive batting, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh had a phenomenal year. In 21 matches, she scored 365 runs at an impressive strike rate of 156.65. Her standout knock was an unbeaten 64 off just 29 balls against the UAE in Dambulla. Ghosh’s fearless approach and ability to finish matches in style is truly superb.
Deepti Sharma the veteran!
All-rounder Deepti Sharma was a consistent performer with the ball, claiming 30 wickets at an average of 17.80. Her economical bowling and knack for breaking partnerships played a crucial role in India’s success. Deepti’s best figures of 3/13 against Nepal in the Women’s Asia Cup demonstrated her effectiveness in high-pressure situations.
ICC Women’s T20I Team of the Year 2024
| Player | Country | Matches | Runs | Average | SR | Wickets | BBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Wolvaardt | South Africa | 19 | 673 | 39.58 | 125.09 | – | – |
| Smriti Mandhana | India | 23 | 763 | 42.38 | 126.53 | – | – |
| Chamari Athapaththu | Sri Lanka | 21 | 720 | 40.00 | 126.76 | 21 | 4/29 |
| Hayley Matthews | West Indies | 16 | 538 | 35.86 | 121.99 | 14 | 3/25 |
| Nat Sciver-Brunt | England | 16 | 423 | 47.00 | 133.86 | 7 | 2/13 |
| Melie Kerr | New Zealand | 18 | 387 | – | – | 29 | 4/20 |
| Richa Ghosh | India | 21 | 365 | 33.18 | 156.65 | – | – |
| Marizanne Kapp | South Africa | 16 | 399 | 30.69 | – | 11 | 2/14 |
| Orla Prendergast | Ireland | 18 | 544 | 36.26 | – | 21 | 4/22 |
| Deepti Sharma | India | 23 | 115 | – | – | 30 | 3/13 |
| Sadia Iqbal | Pakistan | 19 | – | – | – | 30 | 4/16 |
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