Key facts
- Australia begins the Women's T20 World Cup as the No. 1 ranked team.
- India has shown significant recent success, including a T20 bilateral series win against Australia.
- The tournament features 12 teams across two groups, with the top two from each advancing to the semifinals.
- Ticket sales have already exceeded previous records, indicating strong fan interest.
- Prizemoney for the tournament has increased to $8.76 million.
Australia begins the 10th Women's Twenty20 World Cup as the top-ranked team and a favorite to win its seventh title, building on a history of 13 white-ball world championship wins. However, India, bolstered by recent successes in both men's and women's cricket and the launch of its Women's Premier League, is seen as a strong contender. India handed Australia its first T20 bilateral series defeat since 2017 and secured its first win in Australia in a decade, fostering a belief within the team of their ability to defeat any opponent.
Australia has undergone a reset, with Sophie Molineux captaining the side and Beth Mooney taking the gloves, while opener Georgia Voll has secured a spot. Voll and Mooney are currently ranked as the top two T20 batters. Veteran Ellyse Perry is aiming for her seventh world title, and allrounder Annabel Sutherland is a contender for player of the tournament.
In Group A, which includes Australia and India, one team will miss the semifinals, a fate Australia has never experienced. South Africa, a finalist in the last three world tournaments, has brought back fast bowler Shabnim Ismail and former captain Dane van Niekerk. Pakistan, Bangladesh, and first-time qualifier the Netherlands complete Group A.
Group B features No. 2 ranked England, along with New Zealand and the West Indies, all former champions. Ireland, Scotland, and Sri Lanka round out Group B. England's captain Nat Sciver-Brunt has been cleared to bat after a calf injury. New Zealand's squad includes 10 players from their 2024 championship team, led by top-ranked allrounder Melie Kerr, and aims to give a fitting farewell to senior players Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, and Lea Tahuhu. The West Indies, captained by Hayley Matthews, recently won a tri-nations series after being swept by Sri Lanka and Australia. Sri Lanka's team is led by Chamari Athapaththu, while Ireland seeks to improve its winless T20 World Cup record. Scotland has prepared with a home tri-nations series victory.
The tournament, featuring 33 games over 24 days, will see the top two teams from each group advance to the semifinals at The Oval, with the final at Lord's on July 5. Ticket sales have already surpassed the previous record, and prizemoney has increased by 10% to $8.76 million.