The Women's T20 World Cup begins today - here's how each team stack up ahead of the edition.
12. Netherlands
Netherlands are at their first Women’s T20 World Cup, after coming through three rounds of qualifiers. They won 19 matches across the Europe Qualifier, the Emerging Nations Trophy and the Global Qualifier, making their rise one of the stories of the tournament.
The World Cup, though, is a different level. The Netherlands have never played Australia or India, two of the biggest sides in their group, and this will also be their first T20I assignment in England.
Babette de Leede gives them experience at the top, while Sterre Kalis, their leading T20I run-scorer, has spent time in English domestic cricket. Their seamers could also find some help in these conditions, but getting points on the board would be a major achievement.
Rapid rise meets toughest test - can the Dutch cause some upsets?
11. Scotland
Scotland should be stronger than they were at the last T20 World Cup. They have several players familiar with English domestic cricket, and Kirstie Gordon’s return gives them a major boost.
Kathryn Bryce and Sarah Bryce remain Scotland’s biggest names. Both have more than 1,000 T20I runs, while Kathryn is also key with the ball. The concern is the support around them.
Scotland’s first game against Ireland may be their clearest route to a first T20 World Cup win.
Will ‘home’ advantage produce elusive win for Scotland?
10. Bangladesh
Bangladesh arrive after winning the Global Qualifier earlier this year, where they won all seven games. They beat Ireland, the Netherlands and Scotland in Nepal, and later recovered from a slow start in the Edinburgh tri-series to finish with wins over both Scotland and the Netherlands.
Their attack has enough variety to keep them competitive. Marufa Akter gives them a genuine new-ball threat, and Ritu Moni and Fariha Islam could also find some help in English conditions. The spin group remains deep, but in England, Bangladesh may need their seamers to take on a larger role than they usually do.
The batting has also shown some recent improvement. Nigar Sultana and Sobhana Mostary remain central, while Dilara Akter’s tempo at the top could be important. However, they still need more consistency against the top sides.
Tough challenge awaits Bangladesh on first England assignment
9. Ireland
Ireland look like the strongest team to have come through the qualifiers. Over the last couple of years, they have beaten Bangladesh away, swept Zimbabwe, defeated Pakistan, and also beaten the West Indies.
Their progress has been built around Gaby Lewis and Orla Prendergast. Lewis has made 825 T20I runs since the last World Cup at an average above 43, while Prendergast has scored 707 runs and taken 30 wickets in the same period.
Their seam-heavy attack should suit England. Arlene Kelly has taken 32 wickets since the last World Cup at 14.25, with Prendergast and Ava Canning adding more medium-pace options. But Laura Delany’s withdrawal weakens the balance, and Ireland still depend heavily on a select group of players.
Ireland's strong core ready to seize opportunity for first tournament points
8. Pakistan
Pakistan have enough individual quality, but the overall squad still has clear gaps.
Fatima Sana is central to almost everything they do. Since the last World Cup, she has been Pakistan’s highest run-scorer in T20Is despite often batting low in the order, and she is also one of their best new-ball options. Her 15-ball fifty against Zimbabwe showed how quickly she can change a game.
Sadia Iqbal is another major strength. The left-arm spinner remains the No.1-ranked T20I bowler in the world, and Nashra Sandhu gives Pakistan another reliable spin option.
The concern is the batting around them. The opening pair has not been convincing, the younger batters are still untested against top teams, and the pace attack beyond Sana looks light.
Onus on Pakistan teammates to back captain Sana Mir
7. Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka lost all four games at the 2024 T20 World Cup, but they should be better placed this time. Their group is kinder, and their recent results have been encouraging, including a drawn series against New Zealand and a 2-0 win over West Indies.
They are also less dependent on Chamari Athapaththu than before. Athapaththu remains their biggest player, but Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Hasini Perera and Imesha Dulani give the batting more support. Dilhari also adds useful off-spin.
There is variety in the attack as well, with Sugandika Kumari giving them left-arm spin, while Malki Madara and Kawya Kavindi are seam options. Sri Lanka are not among the strongest squads, but they should be more competitive than before.
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6. West Indies
West Indies were semi-finalists at the last T20 World Cup and enter as one of the more underrated sides in the competition.
Hayley Matthews is still their most important player. Since the last T20 World Cup, she has scored 781 runs in 20 innings at 55.78, with one hundred and seven fifties. No other West Indies batter has crossed 400 runs in that period. Deandra Dottin gives them power, while Chinelle Henry has also scored quickly when given chances.
Their bowling has variety through Afy Fletcher, Matthews, Karishma Ramharack, Zaida James, Henry and Dottin. But the batting still feels dependent on one or two major contributions. West Indies can beat stronger sides if their big names come off, but they can also struggle for that same reason.
West Indies' over-reliance on captain continues, but semi-finals a realistic target
5. New Zealand
New Zealand are defending champions, but they do not come in as obvious favourites. Their 2024 title run came after a poor build-up, and they may need another tournament where they peak at the right time.
Amelia Kerr is the key. Since the 2024 final, she has made 629 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 147.3, including both her T20I hundreds. She will also lead New Zealand in her first ICC tournament as captain.
Around her, there is huge experience. Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu are playing their final T20 World Cup, and the trio have a combined 439 T20Is. The squad still has all-round cover and bowling variety, but another deep run may depend on Kerr and the senior core.
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4. England
England have one of the best bowling attacks in the tournament, and home conditions should suit them. Lauren Bell is the top-ranked T20I pacer in the world, Linsey Smith has added control with the new ball, and Sophie Ecclestone remains their premier spinner. Tilly Corteen-Coleman gives them another spin option.
The batting is the bigger question. Nat Sciver-Brunt’s return is a major boost, even if she is unlikely to bowl at the start. Alice Capsey’s 82 against India at Taunton also gave England the kind of boundary-heavy innings they had been missing.
The group draw helps, with Australia, India and South Africa all in the other pool. But England have fallen short in T20 World Cup knockouts since 2018. Their bowling can take them deep; the batting will decide how far.
Unbeaten in home ICC tournaments, hosts England have clear path to maintain record
3. India
India have one of the strongest batting groups in the tournament. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma remain one of the most dangerous opening pairs in the format, while Richa Ghosh gives them rare finishing power. Despite usually batting outside the powerplay, she strikes at 145 in T20Is.
The WPL has also widened India’s pool. Bharti Fulmali’s return is a good example. Among Indian batters with at least 250 runs across the 2025 and 2026 WPL seasons, only Richa scored quicker than Fulmali’s strike rate of 159.5.
The issue is balance. Injuries to Amanjot Kaur and Kashvee Gautam have left India without a seam-bowling all-rounder. Renuka Singh Thakur, Deepti Sharma, Shree Charani and Shreyanka Patil give them quality, but their recent form has not been great.
Can India overcome Group of Death to do the double?
2. Australia
Australia are still one of the strongest squads in the competition, but for the first time in a long time, they do not enter a women’s World Cup as the automatic favourites.
They have played only 12 T20Is since the last World Cup, fewer than every team here except Pakistan.
They have won 10 of those matches, but the two defeats came against India, in their first bilateral T20I series loss in nearly three years.
There is also a leadership change. Alyssa Healy’s retirement has moved Sophie Molineux into the captaincy, with Ash Gardner and Tahlia McGrath as deputies.
Even so, the squad is stacked. Beth Mooney, Georgia Voll, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Gardner, McGrath, Grace Harris and Annabel Sutherland give them batting depth and all-round cover. Molineux, Gardner, Georgia Wareham and Alana King provide spin options, while Megan Schutt, Kim Garth and Lucy Hamilton cover the seam department.
Can Australia shed the baggage of no longer being outright favourites?
1. South Africa
South Africa look like the most complete squad in the tournament.
This is a settled squad with clear roles, experience across departments, and a seam attack that should be effective in England.
Laura Wolvaardt remains the centrepiece of the batting. She was the highest run-scorer at the 2024 T20 World Cup and has made 776 T20I runs since then at 48.50, striking at 143.70. Tazmin Brits, the second-highest run-scorer at the 2024 edition, gives South Africa a threatening opening pair.
Marizanne Kapp balances the XI as a frontline seamer and middle-order batter, while Chloé Tryon and Nadine de Klerk add further all-round depth. Shabnim Ismail’s return gives them pace, and alongside Ayabonga Khaka and Kapp, South Africa have an attack that should enjoy English conditions.
The middle order remains the one area to watch, but compared to the other contenders, there are fewer visible holes. After reaching the last two T20 World Cup finals, this could be the year South Africa finally go one step further.
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