Women’s cricket has traveled a long way since it was introduced. While men’s cricket once overshadowed it, it has become a worldwide sensation. Women’s Big Bash League and Women’s Indian Premier League are some platforms that also popularised it. The leagues have resulted in intense rivalries like India Women vs New Zealand Women cricket matches. There is undoubtedly an improvement in the quality of cricket played for both teams.
Besides, players have brought it close to fans, making it more exciting to watch. The last decade brought a sharp increase in viewership, sponsorship, and media coverage of women’s cricket.
Such great exposure has helped to make the game more professional and contributed to outstanding performances of women cricketers.
The Evolution of Women’s Cricket: A New Era
Nowadays, female cricketers are famous internationally thanks to various initiatives like WBBL and WIPL. They can compete and perform on a global stage, playing with and against the best players in the world.
Moreover, the experience that the players get is anomalous. It helps the cricketers get exposure and sufficient practice that combines vast parity in matches against international rivals.
Fans have also been affected by the changes, and it has not gone unnoticed. Women’s cricket seems to have entered a trendy stage recently.
The reported spectators’ numbers are consistently growing, with people attending live matches becoming increasingly responsive.
Some have signed robust sponsor contracts with Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur, who perform for top international brands. Thus, these athletes strongly support focusing on their sport and continue to inspire a new generation.
Head to head: Rivalry Between India Women vs New Zealand Women
Cricket has taught players to dream aggressively; that is how the Indian Women have performed against New Zealand in this rivalry.
Over the years, these two teams have played close battles against each other in ODIs and WT20s.
The competition between the two big teams has been heightened as both have acquired better and younger talent in the past few years.
Record in WODIs and WT20Is
Women’s One Day Internationals (WODIs), out of the total 54 contests between both nations, New Zealand has won more than half (33 wins), and India was able to win over one-third of them (20 wins).
In Women’s T20 Internationals (WT20Is), the result is better, with both sides displaying grit and talent.
| Format | Matches | India Wins | New Zealand Wins |
| WODIs | 54 | 20 | 33 |
| WT20Is | 13 | 4 | 9 |
The rivalry has provided plenty of individual performances over the years. At the top of the list is perhaps that pulsating WODI match in Derby during 2017.
When Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur played invaluable knocks to light up a stunning Indian triumph.
Who can forget the WT20I at Queenstown in 2022, where an aggressive knock by Sophie Devine led New Zealand to a win by the narrowest of margins?
Exceptional Players and Contributions
Star Performers in WODIs
Over the years, many good performances have also come from India and New Zealand. Mithali Raj has 1,261 runs against New Zealand, the highest score for an Indian player against Kiwis.
In contrast, New Zealand’s Suzie Bates has scored 718 runs in WODIs against India.
| Player | Runs | Matches | Average | 100s | 50s |
| Mithali Raj (IND) | 1,261 | 36 | 46.70 | 1 | 9 |
| Suzie Bates (NZ) | 718 | 24 | 34.19 | 2 | 3 |
Both teams have a strong pool of upcoming talent. For India, Shafali Verma has taken India by storm; she is already one of the most explosive batters in the world.
Another talented teenager is New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr, who is double as an allrounder.
Record-Breaking Performances
Highest Totals in WODIs
New Zealand Women registered their highest total in WODIs against India on 18 February 2022, when they scored 280/7 in Queenstown. The same game saw India register their highest total of 279 versus New Zealand.
| Team | Score | Ground | Date |
| New Zealand Women | 280/7 | Queenstown | 18 Feb 2022 |
| India Women | 279 | Queenstown | 18 Feb 2022 |
Most Sixes in an Innings
Harmanpreet Kaur, against New Zealand in Providence on 9th November 2018, holds the Indian record for hitting 8 sixes in a WT20I innings.
In this innings, she showed dominance, which was part of anxiety for all the bowlers around then and made her one of the most feared batters in women’s cricket.
New Zealand Women captain Sophie Devine emulated the effort in Bengaluru on July 11, 2015, hitting eight sixes from 22 balls while making a blazing 70 runs against India Women.
| Player | Runs | Balls | Sixes | Ground | Date |
| Harmanpreet Kaur | 103 | 51 | 8 | Providence | 9 Nov 2018 |
| Sophie Devine | 70 | 22 | 8 | Bengaluru | 11 Jul 2015 |
Best Bowling Performances and Top Bowlers
Bowling has been the key to India Women vs New Zealand Women cricket matches. Jhulan Goswami is among India’s top fast bowlers against New Zealand in WODIs. Her best figures are 6 for 31 in Southgate.
| Player | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Ground | Date |
| Jhulan Goswami | 10 | 31 | 6 | Southgate | 5 Jul 2011 |
Most Successful Bowlers
Over the years, Jhulan Goswami has consistently been a top performer for India. For New Zealand, Sophie Devine has taken 13 wickets in WT20Is against India.
| Player | Matches | Wickets | Average | Economy Rate |
| Jhulan Goswami | 31 | 47 | 21.21 | 3.70 |
| Sophie Devine | 11 | 13 | 15.76 | 6.18 |
Key Matches and Rivalry Moments
Here is a summary of the latest 5 matches between India Women and New Zealand Women across WODIs and WT20Is:
| Date | Format | Winner | Margin | Ground |
| 22 Feb 2022 | WODI | New Zealand Women | 63 runs | Queenstown |
| 15 Feb 2022 | WODI | New Zealand Women | 17 runs | Queenstown |
| 9 Feb 2022 | WT20I | New Zealand Women | 18 runs | Queenstown |
| 10 Feb 2019 | WT20I | New Zealand Women | 2 runs | Hamilton |
| 6 Feb 2019 | WT20I | New Zealand Women | 23 runs | Wellington |
Star Players and Their Impact on the Game
The performances of crucial players have shaped the rivalry between India and New Zealand. Both teams boast world-class talent, including legendary cricketers and rising stars.
India’s Stars
Mithali Raj has the most-run aggregate of 1,261 runs, averaging 46.70 in WODIs versus New Zealand. Her capability to hold one end has transformed the Indian team.
Harmanpreet Kaur, an attacking player, scored 103 runs in 51 balls against New Zealand in a WT20I match in 2018.
Jhulan Goswami’s 6/31 in a WODI match 2011 remains one of the best bowling performances against New Zealand.
New Zealand’s Powerhouses
Suzie Bates holds New Zealand’s most run aggregate versus India, with a WODI run-tally of 718 runs and a high score of 122. In WT20Is, she has 281 runs due to her composure and aggression, making her the player to look out for.
On the other hand, Sophie Devine is a complete all-rounder. In WT20Is versus India, she has 326 runs. Her power play drained the game out of India and stood tall to produce a routine win for New Zealand.
That includes a pack of solid sixes that leave spectators in shock. In one match in 2022, she hit 8 sixes, which shows her power. Her bowling, too, has made her dangerous.
Best Bowling Performance in WODIs and WT20Is
We have seen the bowlers doing well for both sides. India — Jhulan Goswami has the best bowling figures in a WODI against New Zealand.
Lea Tahuhu has been a critical bowler for New Zealand. A game changer, her best WT20I bowling figure of 3/20 v India in 2019. Tahuhu is also seen as a deadly weapon with her seamless pace and swing in any game format.
| Player | Overs | Runs | Wkts | Econ | Ground | Date |
| Jhulan Goswami | 10 | 31 | 6 | 3.10 | Southgate | 05 Jul 2011 |
| Lea Tahuhu | 4 | 20 | 3 | 5.00 | Wellington | 06 Feb 2019 |
Future Stars of the Rivalry in India Women vs New Zealand Women Matches
This leads us straight into the Future Stars. With the game modernizing, more young talent is coming to the limelight.
India’s Rising Stars
One of the top young cricketers in India, Shafali Verma, remains a vital cog in Indian cricket. An aggressive batsman, she has already impacted WODIs and WT20I with her performances.
She adopts an aggressive approach at the top; most of the time, that’s exactly what India needs.
Next-generation of New Zealand Cricketers
Amelia Kerr is the future prodigy of New Zealand. She is an all-rounder who has shown considerable talent with both bat and ball at her tender age.
She has been a thorn in plenty of top-order sides with her leg spin, and a convincing century against India in 2022 announced to world cricket that she is here to stay.
The Role of Domestic Leagues in Shaping Players
The local leagues, the Women’s IPL and Women’s BBL, by sides in India and New Zealand, have done good for women’s cricket over the years. This is why such leagues are a great platform to get noticed by playing with the best of the world.
Playing in these high-pressure environments sharpened their skills, and many players have elevated their games to international levels.
However, women cricketers from India also have significant events, such as the Women’s IPL, to improve their skills. The exposure to different playing conditions and top-quality opposition helps in enhancing consistency.
What to Expect Next from India Women vs New Zealand Women Clashes?
Players such as Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates have been playing in international leagues, which has helped them in delivering performances. They sharpen their skill through WBBL, making them more valuable in international matches.
The prospects for women’s cricket in the future are evident. The 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup posted record audiences in stadiums and on TV.
More viewership means more ad revenue, leading to more development of women’s cricket.
However, much work is still needed. There is an even greater need for more investment in grassroots development, given that there are only so many young talents to be sourced.
Conclusion
The rivalry between India Women vs New Zealand Women matches is only a snippet of suspense the game has up its sleeves. The sport will only grow with more fans, sponsors, and leagues coming on board.
The building block of future women cricketers in India and New Zealand can improve world cricket this time.
In addition to their continued mutual support, the sky is the limit for two teams, convincing ever-growing legions of fans worldwide that women’s cricket is here to stay.
The journey of women’s cricket has been remarkable. India and New Zealand have played a vital role in elevating the sport to where it stands today.
The players and their performances have set a strong base for the future. With the sport attracting more and more fans, women’s cricket will only grow, with International leagues prospering.
To grow, it must continue investing in grassroots development and get excellent media coverage and sponsors.
The miles the players have traveled already must seem like a grain of sand compared to the miles ahead, which hold so much promise.
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