Women's T20 World Cup 2024: Actor Rana Daggubati greets Indian team on their arrival in Dubai

The Women's T20 World Cup 2024 gets underway on Thursday, October 3. Team India arrived in Dubai to participate in the marquee event on Wednesday, September 25 and was welcomed by actor Rana Daggubati, who has been part of blockbuster films like Baahubali and Ghazi Attack among others.

Asha Sobhana, Shreyanka Patil, Sajeevan Sajana, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma and others were present at the airport. The cricketers also clicked pictures with the actor.

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"I just bumped into these amazing people at the airport. And I'm wishing them all the very best," Daggubati said in a video uploaded by BCCI Women on 'X' (previously known as Twitter).

Watch the video below:

I am going with the same excitement as I had when I was just a 19-year-old: Harmanpreet Kaur

Harmanpreet Kaur is set to become one of only six cricketers to have competed in all nine editions of the Women's T20 World Cup. The Indian captain will join legendary cricketers like Suzie Bates (New Zealand), Sophie Devine (England), Marizanne Kapp (South Africa), Ellyse Perry (Australia) and Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka).

Harmanpreet said that she is looking forward to using all her experience to help the Indian women's team win a first-ever World Cup.

“I have played so many World Cups, and that experience and atmosphere is totally different to any bilateral series or any other tournament,” India captain Harmanpreet said before the squad departed for the United Arab Emirates late at night on Tuesday.

“I am going with the same excitement as I had when I was just a 19-year-old. I just want to go there and enjoy myself. I know now I have so much experience with me,” added Harmanpreet.

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The Women in Blue begin their campaign on Friday, October 4, as they cross swords with New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. In the previous edition in 2022, India lost in the semi-finals against eventual champions Australia. The Asian giants will want to go the distance this year with a squad that has a fine mix of youth and experience.