10 Things To Know About Women's T20 Challenge 2020

The third season of Women's T20 Challenge is all set to begin today in Sharjah. The defending champions Supernovas will be taking on Velocity, in today's match.

Here are 10 things to know about this year's Women's T20 Challenge.

1. When And Where Will It Take Place?

This tournament will take place during the IPL playoffs. The three teams - Supernovas, Velocity and Trailblazers - are set to play three matches between November 4 and 9 in Sharjah. The final is scheduled on November 9 at the same venue. The women's contingent was allowed to train only after they underwent a mandatory six-day quarantine at the team hotel. In addition, they were also tested for the virus at regular intervals.

2. Importance Of This Year's Edition

This short tournament is significant for women's cricket. India's Women's team hasn't played any competitive cricket since the T20 World Cup final against Australia on March 8. The pandemic had bought all major competitive sports to a halt. However, this tournament could be one of the few competitive games for our women's team.

3. Twitter And BCCI Launched 7 Emojis For The Challenge

Twitter India and the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) recently decided to join hands in launching seven new custom emojis around the league, along with its teams and the respective captains.

Also Read: Twitter India, BCCI Join Hands To Launch Seven Emojis For Women’s T20 Challenge

4. Reliance Jio Is The Title Sponsor For The Challenge

Board of Control for Cricket in India made it public recently that Jio will be the title sponsor for the Women’s IPL. Further, it stated that Reliance Foundation Education and Sports For All (RF ESA) will also support the partnership. This is for the first time that BCCI has sold a slot to a sponsor specifically for Women’s games.

Also Read: Reliance Jio Confirmed As Title Sponsor For Women’s T20 Challenge 2020

5. All eyes on Shafali Verma

Teenager Shafali Verma was among the brightest players in last year's tournament; it got her a maiden T20I call-up for the series against South Africa later that year.

Previously, Verma had created history by becoming the youngest Indian cricketer to score a half-century in international cricket, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s 30-year-old record.

Also Read: 15-Year-Old Shafali Verma Shoulders Her Team To Challenger Trophy Win

6. About Supernovas- The Defending Champions

The Supernovas have been the champions twice. Lead by Harmanpreet Kaur with Jemimah Rodrigues, who was Player of the Series in 2019, the team contains a sturdy batting line-up. Their spinners Poonam Yadav and Radha Yadav are among the top 10 in the T20 bowling charts.

They also have star players like Sri Lankan captain Chamari Atapattu and former captain Shashikala Siriwardene, skilled West Indies seam bowler Shakera Selman and the South Africa quick Ayabonga Khaka.

7. About Velocity

Headed by Mithali Raj, they have the middle-order batter Veda Krishnamurthy, wicketkeeper-batter Sushma Verma and pace-bowling allrounder Shikha Pandey.  Overseas players include South Africa's Sune Luus, New Zealand's Leigh Kasperek, England's Danni Wyatt and Bangladesh's Jahanara Alam.

8. About  Trailblazers

With Smriti Mandhana as the captain, they have England's Sophie Ecclestone, the No. 1-ranked T20I bowler, the Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin, Bangladesh captain Salma Khatun and India fast bowler Jhulan Goswami in their ranks.

They even have Thailand's star batter Nattakan Chantam, who played remarkably during her team's maiden T20 World Cup appearance in Australia.

9. Indian Players To Look Forward To

Kashvee Gautam from Trailblazers: This is her first appearance in the T20 Challenge. The 17-year-old made headlines after she picked up all ten wickets - including a hat-trick - in an innings in the Women's U-19 One-Day Trophy earlier this year.

Ayushi Soni from Supernovas: Last year, the 20-year-old allrounder captained India B side at the U-23 Challenger Trophy.

Sushree Dibyadarshini from Velocity: Debuting last year, the off-spinner made a mark on her T20 Challenge when she snuffed out West Indies' Stafanie Taylor in her second over and finished with figures of 3-1-14-1.

10. Where To Watch Match Updates

One can stream the live matches on Star Sports. For score updates, one can follow Insidesport.

Shivangi Thapa is an intern with SheThePeople.Tv