Former Australian batsman Michael Klinger has been appointed head coach of Gujarat Giants ahead of the WPL 2024 on Tuesday. He will replace former Australian batsman Rachael Haynes. Michael Klinger will join the team of former Indian captain Mithali Raj (mentor) and Nooshin Al Khadeer (bowling coach) to help Gujarat Giants perform even better.

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The WPL 2024, which is the second season of this tournament, will be played in Bengaluru and New Delhi. The tournament will start from February 23 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Gujarat Giants will take on Mumbai Indians in their first match of the campaign on February 25.

Giving information about Klinger's appointment, Gujarat Giants' Advisor and Team Mentor Mithali Raj said, "Working with Michael will help bring out the best in the Gujarat Giants players. His expertise with the bat is also well-known and will surely benefit some of the younger members of our team. We look forward to having Klinger in the dressing room. We are sure of attaining success with him as head coach."

Klinger has also played the role of coach in BBL

After retirement, Klinger served as the head coach of the Melbourne Renegades in the BBL for two seasons in the 2019–20 season. The 43-year-old previously served as an assistant coach in the WBBL this season, where the team finished fourth.

Klinger has been a big name in the men's BBL. He retired in 2019 and is recognized as the league's all-time leading run-scorer. His experience in various aspects of the game will prove beneficial for the Gujarat Giants team.

Commenting on his appointment as head coach, Klinger said, "The Gujarat Giants have a chance to do something special in Season two of the Women's Premier League. I'm eagerly looking forward to working with cricketing legend Mithali Raj, who has played a transformative role in women's cricket in India. I hope to take the team to ultimate glory."

Last year Gujarat Giants had won only 2 matches

Last year the performance of Gujarat Giants was very poor. They had to face defeat in 6 out of 8 matches. The team was at the bottom of the points table at 5th position.

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Gujarat Giants added all-rounder in the auction

Gujarat Giants have added many all-rounders in the WPL 2024 auction. They have included Chandigarh all-rounder Kashvee Gautam along with Phoebe Litchfield and Scotland all-rounder Kathryn Bryce. Veda Krishnamurthy has also returned to the team. With this, the Gujarat Giants team will benefit from his experience in the middle order.

On Wednesday, Neetu David was enlisted into the ICC Hall of Fame, becoming the second Indian woman, after Diana Edulji, to receive this prestigious honor. 

Neetu David, who has dedicated her life to the sport, both as a player and as an administrator, rightly deserves this moment. However, it's not just recognizing the number enscripted in the record books, but many unsaid contributions, her craft of spin bowling, and her presence on the off-field encouraging women's cricket for a better future.

The Record-Setting Spinner

Neetu David’s career speaks volumes in numbers—141 wickets in 97 ODIs, 41 wickets in 10 Tests. Moreover, she proudly carries her tag as the first Indian woman to cross the 100-wicket milestone in ODIs.

It was in a 1995 Test match against England that Neetu David etched her name in history. Her spell of 8/53 remains the best-ever bowling figure in a women’s Test innings to this day. Even though India faced a heartbreaking two-run loss, Neetu’s had set the gold standard for slow bowling. To be honest, scalping eight wickets is fiery enough in those days. But when it comes with grace and consistency, it is something that needs to be worshipped. 

Her meticulous ability to vary her pace, loop the ball just right, and outsmart batters is what made Neetu David a nightmare for batters across the world. It would be absolutely wrong to say that she was a bowler. She literally planned and crafted her dismissals, giving treats to the eyes.

A Journey Across Three World Cups

David has played in three World Cups and has experienced both glory and heartbreak. A semi-final finish in 1997 on home soil and an early exit in 2000—she went through all but stayed tall with the ball in hand.

However, she was in her peak form in the 2005 Women’s World Cup in South Africa. Neetu concluded as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, bagging 20 wickets, guiding India towards their maiden final. Well, again, Australia being the major hurdle for India shattering the dream. 

The 2005 final was bittersweet for Neetu. She had done everything within her power, but her fate didn't support it. Nonetheless, her place among the tournament's best was unquestionable, and her leadership on the field earned her the admiration of peers and rivals alike.

The Transition from Player to Selector

David retired from international cricket in 2006 but did not leave the field. She had her brief outing in 2008 but soon realized her greater calling lay off the field. She played her last domestic match in 2013 for the Railways, aiding them to win the Senior Women's T20 League title.

In 2020, David was appointed as the Chair of the Women’s Selection Committee for India, on the eve of the new era in India’s women’s cricket. During her tenure, the team made rapid transitions, including the retirements of legends like Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami. 

Moreover, David played a crucial role in nurturing young talents like Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh.

Beyond the Numbers: Neetu’s Everlasting Influence

David’s induction into the ICC Hall of Fame is more than just a recognition of her numbers. It is about honoring a cricketer who helped pave the way for future generations. Women’s cricket in India today stands on the shoulders of pioneers like Neetu, who fought against the odds, often without the resources or recognition their male counterparts enjoyed.

Her journey from a 17-year-old debutant to a Hall of Famer is one filled with grit, determination, and a love for the sport that transcends records. Neetu David may have left the playing field, but her legacy continues to spin its way into the future of Indian cricket.

The teams of South Africa and West Indies will face each other in the third match of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 on October 4, Friday. Both the teams would like to make a strong start in the tournament by performing well in this match.

Also Read: ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024: Squads of every team

This match is important for both the teams as it can give them a chance to go to the knockout stage of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. With the result of this match, the form of both the teams and the ability of their players will be evaluated. South Africa will take the field with its balanced team, while West Indies will depend on the excellent form of its captain Hayley Matthews.

South Africa won the series 2-1 against Pakistan

South Africa women's team has recently performed brilliantly against Pakistan by winning the series 2-1. Their eyes are set on winning the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 title. Team captain Laura Wolvaardt is currently the fifth ranked T20 batsman in the world and has led the team to victory in many matches with her aggressive game.

Marizanne Kapp and Chloe Tryon are the other key players of the team who are expected to strengthen the team with their experience. In bowling, Tumi Sekhukhune and Sinalo Jafta can play major roles.

West Indies won the T20 series against Sri Lanka 

The West Indies team has recently shown its capability by winning the T20 series against Sri Lanka. Team captain Hayley Matthews is in excellent form and has scored 313 runs so far in the year 2024 and has also taken 8 wickets.

The team is full of all-rounders, but their batsmen will have to show composure against the strong bowling of South Africa. The return of Deandra Dottin has strengthened the team and she will play an important role in both batting and bowling.

Also Read: ICC announces equal prize money for women as men ahead of Women's T20 World Cup 2024; winners to receive US$2.34million

SAW vs WIW: Head-To-Head

SAW vs WIW: Squads

The Indian Women's Cricket Team will take on arch-rivals Pakistan on October 6 as per the new and updated Women's T20 World Cup fixture released by ICC on Monday. The ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024, which is all set to begin on October 3, was scheduled to be held in Bangladesh but was moved due to security reasons. Post that, ICC decided to shift the tournament to UAE with BCB still being the hosts of the marquee tournament. 

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India will start their campaign against the Kiwis 

The groups are still the same. Defending champion Australia are in Group A alongside India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Group B consists of South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh and Scotland. Each side will play four group matches, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the semi-finals.

The two semis will be played on October 17 and 18 and the final in Dubai on October 20. There is also a reserve day for both the semi-finals and the final.

If India advances from the group stage, they will feature in the first semi-final. 10 warm-up matches will be played from September 28 to October 1.

Team India will play their tournament opener against New Zealand on 4th October in Dubai followed by the much-awaited match against arch-rival Pakistan on 6th October at the same venue.

The Indian Women's team will then play against the defending champions Australia on 13th October in Sharjah.

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ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024: Fixture and Schedule

The 2024 Women’s Asia Cup has already started, and India Women have booked their spot in the final. Throughout the year, several women cricketers in India have performed brilliantly in the T20 internationals. Four batters from India have scored more than 2000 runs while two of them have scored more than 3000 runs in their career in women’s T20Is so far. So, let's look at the list of Indian Women's cricketers who have scored the most T20I runs.

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Most T20I runs for the Indian Women's Team

1. Smriti Mandhana - 3433 runs

Smriti Mandhana has been one of the best batters for India Women in recent times. She is the all-time highest run-scorer in India in women’s T20I. She has scored 3433 runs from 134 T20I innings for India Women with 25 half-centuries and a highest score of 87. She made her debut in 2013 and is now only the second Indian Women cricketer who has scored more than 3000 runs.

2. Harmanpreet Kaur - 3415 runs

The second-highest run-scorer for India Women in T20Is is the Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. She is the only Indian women’s cricketer to score a century in the T20I format. With 3415 runs from 152 games, Kaur has scored a hundred and 12 half-centuries. Her only century in the format came in the T20 World Cup 2018. She scored 103 off 51 balls against New Zealand in the 2018 T20 World Cup opener at Guyana.

3. Mithali Raj - 2364 runs

Former Indian skipper Mithali Raj is the third-highest run-getter for India in women’s T20Is. She was one of India's best players across formats. Mithali scored 2364 runs with a highest score of 97* from 89 T20I matches for India with 17 half-centuries before announcing her retirement in 2019. Her average of 37.52 is the highest on this list among the top five batters.

4. Jemimah Rodrigues - 2045 runs

Jemimah Rodrigues has been one of the best players in the Indian middle order over the years. She can switch her gears anytime during the middle overs and that's the reason she is a key member in the Indian squad right now. Rodrigues has scored 2045 runs in 99 T20Is for India with 11 half-centuries. 

5. Shafali Verma - 1932 runs

The 20-year-old Shafali Verma has already become one of the most important members of the Indian squad. She is the fifth-highest run-scorer for India in women’s T20Is at the age of 20. The right-hander has scored 1932 runs from 80 matches with a highest score of 81 for India Women in T20Is with ten half-centuries. Shafali is the second-highest runs scorer in the Women's Asia Cup 2024 and the highest among the Indian batters with 184 runs at an average of 61.33.

The Women's Super League 2024-25 (WSL 2024-25) is set to return on September 22, 2024, and it is going to be another exciting season. A jam-packed opening day will feature all the teams in action, with defending champions Chelsea hosting Aston Villa while Arsenal will face Manchester City in the opening game of the season. The battle for Champions League qualification will be thrilling to watch. Here's the fixture of the Women's Super League 2024-25 season.

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