The ICC Women’s T20I Team of the Year 2024 was announced, recognizing players who excelled with remarkable performances throughout the calendar year. Among the elite XI are three Indian stars: opener Smriti Mandhana, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, and all-rounder Deepti Sharma, whose stellar contributions were instrumental in India’s success in women’s T20I cricket.

Smriti Mandhana showcased her class as one of the premier batters in women’s cricket with consistent performances across 2024. The year began with a brilliant 54 against Australia at the DY Patil Stadium, setting the tone for her campaign. Mandhana continued to dominate bowling attacks, capping off the year with three consecutive half-centuries against West Indies at home.

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Her remarkable run with the bat not only anchored India’s batting line-up but also propelled her to the second spot in the ICC Women’s T20I Batting Rankings. Mandhana’s ability to deliver under pressure and lead from the front made her an easy choice for the ICC Women’s T20I Team of the Year.

Richa Ghosh, India’s dynamic wicketkeeper-batter, stood out for her aggressive style of play and ability to score quick runs. One of her most memorable performances came against the UAE in Dambulla, where she smashed an unbeaten 64 off just 29 balls, maintaining a phenomenal strike rate of 220.68.

Her aggressive approach continued against West Indies at the DY Patil Stadium, where she blasted a rapid 54 off just 21 balls. With a year-long strike rate of 156.65, Ghosh cemented her reputation as a game-changing batter capable of turning matches around in a matter of overs.

Deepti Sharma proved her mettle as a consistent all-rounder, contributing significantly with both bat and ball. The 27-year-old was India’s go-to bowler, claiming 30 wickets at an impressive average of 17.80 and an economy rate of 6.01.

Deepti’s standout bowling spells included figures of 3/13 against Nepal in Dambulla and 3/20 against Pakistan in the Women’s Asia Cup. Her ability to deliver crucial breakthroughs and maintain control in tight situations made her one of the most valuable players in the team.