The most open World Cup of the summer starts tomorrow. And no, it’s not the FIFA World Cup or the NBA Finals.
Australia arrive at the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup trophyless in the last two events, New Zealand are the defending champs, India are coming on the back of the ODI WC victory, South Africa have been recent finalists, and England are hosting.
The field is bigger too: 12 teams for the first time with the Netherlands making their debut.
Australia: Two World Cups, No Trophy. Can They Reclaim Their Crown?
Recent Form: LWLWWW (latest)
Stats at a Glance
- Average Age: 28.4
- # of Left Handers in Top 7: 2
- # of Bowling Options in XI: 8
Strengths: The all-rounders. In Sutherland, McGrath, Perry, and Harris, they have the best collection of all-rounders assembled in this World Cup, maybe ever. Balanced bowling attack with left arm spin, an offspinner, couple of leg spinners, and pace brigade, including Hamilton’s left arm seam.
Weaknesses: Team in Transition. With Lanning & Healy retired, how will Molineux turn up as captain? After losing out on 2024 T20WC & 2025 ODI WC, can they come back to winning ways?
News/Injuries: Darcie Brown was left out. No major injuries in the squad as of now.
Expected XI: 1. Beth Mooney (WK), 2. Georgia Voll, 3. Phoebe Litchfield, 4. Ellyse Perry, 5. Tahlia McGrath, 6. Ash Gardner, 7. Annabel Sutherland/Georgia Wareham, 8. Sophie Molineux (C), 9. Alana King, 10. Kim Garth, 11. Megan Schutt
Rest of Squad: Nicola Carey, Lucy Hamilton, Grace Harris, Tahlia Wilson (WK – Traveling Reserve)
X-factor: Georgia Voll, coming off her first T20I century, will partner already promising Phoebe Litchfield at the top. And Alana King: won’t be surprised if she takes a 5-fer and her unplayable leg breaks go viral at least once this tournament.
Broken Dream? Last World Cup for Megan Schutt. Will Ellyse Perry & Mooney follow?
Also Read: What Can Ellyse Perry Not Do?
Bangladesh: Ready as Ever, but is it Enough?
Recent Form: WWWWWWWLLLLLWW
Stats at a Glance
- Average Age: 25.4
- # of Left Handers in Top 7: 0
- # of Bowling Options in XI: 7
Strengths: Continuity and spin. The Bangladesh team have played 14 matches this year although half of them were in the Global Qualifier. With Nahida Akter and Meghla’s left arm orthodox and leg spin options in Rabeya Khan & Fahima Khatun, they have a strong spin unit.
Weaknesses: The top order. Against Sri Lanka and the losses against Scotland & Netherlands, Bangladesh scored 136, 133,133, 154 respectively. Captain Sultana has had to do a bulk of the work with inconsistent top order.
News/Injuries: Taj Nehar comes back at the expense of Sarmin Sultana.
Expected XI: 1. Dilara Akter (WK), 2. Juairiya Ferdous (WK), 3. Sharmin Akhter, 4. Nigar Sultana (C/WK), 5. Sobhana Mostary, 6. Shorna Akter, 7. Fahima Khatun, 8. Ritu Moni, 9. Rabeya Khan, 10. Marufa Akter, 11. Nahida Akter
Rest of Squad: Sanjida Akter Meghla, Taj Nehar, Fariha Trisna, Sultana Khatun
X-factor: Their right arm pacer, Marufa Akter. The 21-year old already has 41 T20Is under her belt and can set the tone on which the spinners can capitalize.
Broken Dream? Can Bangladesh get out of the group with Australia, India, and South Africa?
England: Not Favorites, But Not Not Favorites
Recent Form: WLWLWW
Stats at a Glance
- Average Age: 26.7
- # of Left Handers in Top 7: 0
- # of Bowling Options in XI: 10
Strengths: The bowling line up and the leadership unit. In Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Charlie Dean, and Danni Wyatt-Hodge, they have a good leadership group. In Lauren Bell & Filer, Issy Wong, they have strong pace depth alongside the spin pair of Ecclestone-Dean. Plenty of part-time options as well.
Weaknesses: Unsettled top order. Dunkley is averaging 16.3 this year. Alice Capsey, Amy Jones, Bouchier (not in the main squad), Sciver-Brunt, and Wyatt-Hodge have all played recently at the top without a consistent run.
News/Injuries: Sophia Dunkley is coming back from a knee injury. Nat Sciver-Brunt is returning from an Achilles injur and may carry a reduced bowling load. Danni Wyatt-Hodge is coming back from maternity leave.
Expected XI: 1. Amy Jones (WK), 2. Danni Wyatt-Hodge, 3. Nat Sciver-Brunt (C), 4. Alice Capsey, 5. Heather Knight, 6. Freya Kemp, 7. Charlie Dean, 8. Sophie Ecclestone, 9. Linsey Smith, 10. Issy Wong, 11. Lauren Bell
Rest of Squad: Sophia Dunkley, Dani Gibson, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Lauren Filer, Maia Bouchier (cover), Charis Pavely (cover)
X-factor: Freya Kemp. Striking at 139.77, her confidence will be high after the 39*(13) vs India.
Broken Dream? England are hosting for the first time since 2009, which is the only time they have a won this World Cup. 17 years later, anything short of repeating would break a generation of hearts.
India: Strong, but Not Intimidating
Recent Form: WLWLLLWLWLL
Stats at a Glance
- Average Age: 26.3
- # of Left Handers in Top 7: 1-2
- # of Bowling Options in XI: 8
Strengths: With Mandhana and Shafali, India has a strong top order. On paper, Reddy-Gaud-Renuka is a strong pace unit.
Weaknesses: Lack of a winning run. India has lost a couple of T20Is against England and South Africa recently. In matches India have lost, either India have not picked wickets while defending or the middle order has stalled while chasing.
News/Injuries: Amanjot Kaur (back) and Kashvee Gautam (knee) were not picked due to injuries.
Expected XI: 1. Smriti Mandhana, 2. Shafali Verma, 3. Yastika Bhatia/Jemimah Rodrigues, 4. Harmanpreet Kaur (C), 5. Richa Ghosh (WK), 6. Bharti Fulmali, 7. Deepti Sharma, 8. Arundhati Reddy, 9. Shree Charani, 10. Kranti Gaud, 11. Renuka Singh
Rest of Squad: Shreyanka Patil, Nandani Sharma, Radha Yadav
X-factor: Shree Charani has slowly become central to India’s spin unit. On the batting front, hard to look beyond Smriti Mandhana. In England, she has one century, 5 fifties, SR of 139.48 to go along with an average of 38.23
Broken Dream? After the 2025 ODI WC win, the success of the WPL, and even the back-to-back men’s T20 World Cup win, Indian fans expect nothing else. But will they even get out of the group with Australia and South Africa?
Ireland: Time to Win a World Cup Game
Recent Form: WWLWLWWLWWNR
Stats at a Glance
- Average Age: 23.1
- # of Left Handers in Top 7: 0
- # of Bowling Options in XI: 9
Strengths: Top Order. Amy Hunter, Prendergast, and Stokell all played key roles in Ireland’s recent win against Pakistan. Add captain Gaby Lewis, and this is a strong looking batting line up.
Weaknesses: Lack of firepower.Ireland’s recent scores (including T20WC warm up): 143, 120, 103, 121, 143, 144, and 154 with one 177 against Pakistan as the outlier.
News/Injuries: Laura Delany, backbone of Ireland over the last few years, has been withdrawn from the team due to an injury. Alice Tector replaces her. Right arm pacer, Jane Maguire, has been ruled out with an injury. Captain Lewis was rested for the Pakistan/West Indies tri series due to a leg injury.
Expected XI: 1. Amy Hunter (WK), 2. Alana Dalzell, 3. Gaby Lewis (C), 4. Orla Prendergast, 5. Rebecca Stokell, 6. Leah Paul, 7. Louise Little, 8. Alice Tector, 9. Ava Canning, 10. Aimee Maguire, 11. Cara Murray
Rest of Squad: Christina Coulter Reilly (WK), Georgina Dempsey, Arlene Kelly, Lara McBride
X-factor: 19-year-old left arm spinner, Aimee Maguire. In the warm-up match vs Bangladesh, she opened the bowling and ended with figures of 4-0-20-4.
Broken Dream? Laura Delany, injured on the eve of a near-home World Cup. At 33, she may never get a better chance than this one.
Netherlands: Take Them Lightly at Your Own Risk
Recent Form: WWWWWLLLWLL
Stats at a Glance
- Average Age: 23.8
- # of Left Handers in Top 7:
- # of Bowling Options in XI:
Strengths: Leg spin. With over 70 T20Is each to their name, legspinners Caroline de Lange and Silver Siegers form the core of their bowling line up.
Weaknesses: Potential to collapse. Against Ireland earlier this year, they were bundled out for 45 and vs Bangladesh in February, they collapsed to 5/23 before lower order revival.
News/Injuries:
Expected XI: 1. Heather Siegers (WK), 2. Phebe Molkenboer, 3. Sterre Kalis, 4. Babette de Leede (C/WK), 5. Robine Rijke, 6. Sanya Khurana, 7. Frederique Overdijk, 8. Iris Zwilling, 9. Caroline de Lange, 10. Silver Siegers, 11. Isabel van der Woning
Rest of Squad: Rosalie Ann Lawrence (WK), Myrthe van den Raad, Hannah Landheer, Lara Leemhuis
X-factor: Sterre Kalis. 64 T20Is, best of 126*, 36.09 average. Solid #3 batter.
Broken Dream? Netherlands’ first ever T20 World Cups, only dreams fulfilled. None broken.
New Zealand: Defending the Miracle
Recent Form: WWWWLWWWLWL
Stats at a Glance
- Average Age: 27.5
- # of Left Handers in Top 7: 1
- # of Bowling Options in XI: 9
Strengths: The dynamic all-rounders, Melie Kerr & Sophie Devine. Their form will largely define New Zealand’s journey this year. Kerr was the player of the 2024 WC. Do not be surprised if she repeats the magic again.
Weaknesses: Batting form. In the England series, NZ were bundled for 80, 13/2 in another, and reduced to 11/4 before Devine rescued them.
News/Injuries: Eden Carson, central to the 2024 WC win, misses the World Cup with partial ligament rupture in elbow.
Expected XI: 1. Suzie Bates, 2. Isabella Gaze (WK), 3. Amelia ‘Melie’ Kerr (C), 4. Sophie Devine, 5. Brooke Halliday, 6. Maddy Green, 7, Izzy Sharp (WK), 8. Jess Kerr, 9. Nensi Patel, 10. Rosemary Mair, 11. Lea Tahuhu
Rest of Squad: Georgia Plimmer, Polly Inglis (WK), Flora Devonshire, Bree Illing
X-factor: Isabella Gaze. Against Zimbabwe earlier this year, she scored 66*(50), 85*(54), and 38*(20). If she has a couple of these types of innings, the White Ferns have a good chance of making the semi-finals again.
Broken Dream? The last dance for Bates, Devine, and Tahuhu. All-time greats are about to say goodbye.
Also Read: Universe Conspires to Fulfill Devine’s Destiny: Personal Legend Realized After 14 Long Years
Pakistan: Fatima Sana and the Rest
Recent Form: LLWWWWLLNRNR
Stats at a Glance
- Average Age: 27.9
- # of Left Handers in Top 7: 2
- # of Bowling Options in XI: 8
Strengths: Fatima Sana is the heart of this team now. Finish power, pace bowling, and captain.
Weaknesses: Lack of wicket-taking form. In the warm-ups, Pakistan conceded 169 vs Sri Lanka but only took 1 wicket. They could only take 5 Scotland wickets as well.
News/Injuries: Fatima Sana scored the fastest 50 (15 balls) in women’s T20Is against Zimbabwe.
Expected XI: 1. Muneeba Ali (WK), 2. Ayesha Zafar, 3. Saira Jabeen, 4. Natalia Pervaiz, 5. Iram Javed, 6. Fatima Sana (C), 7. Rameen Shamim, 8. Nashra Sandhu, 9. Tuba Hassan, 10. Sadia Iqbal, 11. Diana Baig
Rest of Squad: Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza (WK), Aliya Riaz, Tasmia Rubab
Reserves: Amber Kainat, Momina Riasat, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Umm-e-Hani
X-factor: Look out for Saira Jabeen. She has only played 5 innings, but already has scores of 50*(32), 30 (19), and 36 (33)
Broken Dream? Tough group to be in. Do not see them qualifying for the semis, let alone lifting the World Cup.
Also Read: Economics of Women’s Cricket
Scotland: May Upset a Couple of Teams
Recent Form: LWWWWLWWWLW
Stats at a Glance
- Average Age: 23.4
- # of Left Handers in Top 7: 0
- # of Bowling Options in XI: 10
Strengths: In-form batting. 163/5, 187/5, and 134/2 (15.4) in the winning chase vs Bangladesh have been some of their recent shows.
Weaknesses: Lack of bowling experience. Fontenla (3 T20Is), Abel (28), Gordon (9) are fairly new and will have to provide adequate support to Maqsood and Chatterji.
News/Injuries: No major injury news, squad at full-strength.
Expected XI: 1. Darcey Carter, 2. Katherine Fraser, 3. Kathryn Bryce (C), 4. Sarah Bryce (WK), 5. Megan McColl, 6. Priyanaz Chatterji, 7. Kirstie Gordon, 8. Chloe Abel, 9. Maisie Maceira, 10. Abtaha Maqsood, 11. Gabriella Fontenia
Rest of Squad: Ailsa Lister (WK), Pippa Sproul (WK), Olivia Bell, Rachel Slater
X-factor: Sarah Bryce. She has played a few handy innings at #4 recently: 23*(15), 40 (41), and 23*(12).
Broken Dream? None that I can think of.
South Africa: Third Time’s The Charm?
Recent Form: WWLLWLLLWWWLW
Stats at a Glance
- Average Age: 28.9
- # of Left Handers in Top 7: 0
- # of Bowling Options in XI: 7-8
Strengths: Experience. Wolvaardt, Luus, Kapp, Khaka, Ismail, Tryon, Van Niekerk have formed the core of the team that has taken South Africa across to the finals. The band is back together.
Weaknesses: Unsettled XI. With players returning from injury and break, the middle order has not yet settled down, which could be an issue in nervy chases.
News/Injuries: Shabnim Ismail and earlier, Dane van Niekerk, have come out of retirement and have made the WC squad. Van Niekerk is coming back from a calf injury and Marizanne Kapp is coming back from illness.
Expected XI: 1. Laura Wolvaardt (C), 2. Sune Luus, 3. Tazmin Brits, 4. Annerie Dercksen, 5. Anneke Bosch, 6. Marizanne Kapp, 7. Chloe Tryon, 8. Sinalo Jafta (WK), 9. Ayabonga Khaka, 10. Nonkululeko Mlaba, 11. Shabnim Ismail
Rest of Squad: Dane van Niekerk, Karabo Meso (WK), Kayla Reyneke, Tumi Sekhukhune
X-factor: Chloe Tryon. 125 T20Is, bats at the crucial finishing position. Strike of 132.34 with 51 sixes.
Broken Dream? Will be the end of an era for a squad that has led South Africa to numerous knockouts.
Sri Lanka: Challengers, Not Contenders
Recent Form: NRWWWWW
Stats at a Glance
- Average Age: 26.9
- # of Left Handers in Top 7: 3
- # of Bowling Options in XI: 7
Strengths: The Top Order. Gunaratne (63*), Athapaththu (94, 42, 41), Samarawickrama (49, 61), Silva (22*), Dulani (55, 52), Karunaratne (54) have all been among the runs recently.
Weaknesses: Lack of gametime against top teams. They have played only six T20Is this year, three each against Bangladesh and West Indies. England, NZ, and WI await in Group 2.
News/Injuries: Shashini Gimhani misses out due to a back injury.
Expected XI: 1. Vishmi Gunaratne, 2. Chamari Athapaththu (C), 3. Hasini Perera (WK), 4. Imesha Dulani, 5. Harshitha Samarawickrama, 6. Nilakshika Silva, 7. Kavisha Dilhari, 8. Nimasha Meepage, 9. Malki Madara, 10. Mithali Ayodha, 11. Sugandika Kumari
Rest of Squad: Hansima Karunaratne, Kaushini Nuthyangana (WK), Kawya Kavindi, Chetana Vimukti
X-factor: Look out for Malki Madara. She has quietly put in good performances recently: 2/9, 3/16, 2/31. A career economy of a stringent 6.57 as well.
Broken Dream? End of the road for legends, Chamari and Kumari?
West Indies: Stars Galore, but with Visible Gaps
Recent Form: NRLLLLLWWLNR
Stats at a Glance
- Average Age: 28.1
- # of Left Handers in Top 7: 1-2
- # of Bowling Options in XI: 10
Strengths: Experience and bowling flexibility. In Matthews-Dottin-Taylor, they have bonafide match winners. Another key aspect is the number of part-timers the West Indies possess. Almost all the batters can bowl part-time off-spin or medium pace.
Weaknesses: Lack of pace depth.
News/Injuries: Full strength, no major injury concerns.
Expected XI: 1. Qiana Joseph, 2. Hayley Matthews (C), 3. Deandra Dottin, 4. Stafanie Taylor, 5. Chinelle Henry, 6. Aaliyah Alleyne, 7. Shemaine Campbelle (WK), 8. Jahzara Claxton, 9. Afy Fletcher, 10. Zaida James, 11. Karishma Ramharack
Rest of Squad: Mandy Mangru (WK), Shawnisha Hector, Ashmini Munisar, Jannilea Glasgow
X-factor: Hayley Matthews. If she can provide consistent aggressive starts at the top, then the team has a chance to challenge for a semi-final spot.
Broken Dream? Afy Fletcher is now 39, potentially representing the West Indies for the final time in a World Cup. With over 200 international appearances, she has been a stalwart for West Indies cricket.
Final Thoughts And Predictions
There is no one clear favorite for this World Cup.
I am excited about the rising stars and a potential open World Cup we may have. On a given day, any team can challenge another. Here are some of my predictions:
- #MostRuns: Hayley Matthews
- #MostWickets: Sree Charani
- #PlayeroftheWC: Ash Gardner
- #RisingStar: Aimee Maguire
- #Top4: Australia, South Africa, England, New Zealand
- #Winner: Australia
What are your predictions?
#413 © Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, LLC 2023. Originally published on 06/12/2026. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).