Commonwealth Games Cricket 2022: India's best XI to face Pakistan

Women’s T20 cricket tournament will be one of the sports in the upcoming Commonwealth Games 2022. India, led by power-hitting sensation Harmanpreet Kaur are one of the eight participants in this event that will be contested in Birmingham. The Indian eves are placed in Group A along with the likes of Australia, Pakistan, and Barbados.

Cricket is making a comeback to the quadrennial sporting tournament after a long wait of 24 years, and all the participants would be hunting for gold in order to etch their name in history books. Even India are one of the favourites to go all the way, and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, as well as batting superstar Smriti Mandhana, have exuded confidence in ensuring a podium finish this time around.

However, the journey will not be easy for the Indian eves as they will be facing the reigning T20 world champions, Australia, in the curtain-raiser on July 29. Meanwhile, all eyes will be on the mouth-watering clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on July 31. Without further ado, here’s a look at India’s playing XI against the Women in Green.

1. Smriti Mandhana

The onus will be on Smriti Mandhana to ensure a brisk start for the Indian eves against the arch-rivals opening the innings. The southpaw can be very dangerous once she is well set in the middle and has the ability to play a match-defining knock. What is important from India’s perspective is that she is at the peak of her career in T20Is.

Mandhana was the sole Indian to feature in the International Cricket Council (ICC)’s Women Team of the Year 2021 in T20Is, having amassed 255 runs averaging 31.87 at a strike rate of 131.44, including two half-centuries from nine matches in the year gone by.

The Sangli cricketer would be hoping to continue her consistent run in this format, and the CWG 2022 clash against Pakistan is a perfect opportunity for her to ensure this.