The 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup is set to kick off on Thursday, October 3, with Team India arriving in Dubai on September 25 to gear up for the prestigious tournament. The squad received a special welcome from actor Rana Daggubati, known for his roles in blockbuster films like “Baahubali” and “Ghazi Attack.”
The cricketers, including Asha Sobhana, Shreyanka Patil, Sajeevan Sajana, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, and Deepti Sharma, were greeted by Daggubati at the airport, where they took a moment to capture the excitement in a few photographs.
“I just bumped into these amazing people at the airport. And I’m wishing them all the very best,” said Rana Daggubati in a video shared by BCCI Women on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter). The interaction set a positive tone as the Indian women’s team embarks on their World Cup journey.
Touchdown Dubai 🛬 #TeamIndia | #T20WorldCup | #WomenInBlue pic.twitter.com/dsVCET1AFA
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) September 25, 2024
Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur is on the verge of a significant milestone, as she is set to become one of only six cricketers to have participated in all nine editions of the Women’s T20 World Cup.
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She joins a prestigious list of cricket legends such as Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Marizanne Kapp, Ellyse Perry, and Chamari Athapaththu. Reflecting on her journey, Harmanpreet expressed her excitement and eagerness to contribute to the team’s success with her vast experience.
“I have played so many World Cups, and that experience and atmosphere are totally different from any bilateral series or other tournament,” she said before the squad departed for the United Arab Emirates late on Tuesday night. “I am going with the same excitement 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 the Indian skipper.
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Team India will kick off their campaign on Friday, October 4, with a high-stakes match against New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. In the tournament’s previous edition in 2022, India made it to the semi-finals but fell short against the eventual champions, Australia. This time, with a balanced squad combining youth and experience, the Women in Blue are determined to go all the way and clinch their first-ever World Cup title.
