Buoyant Indian eves aim to create history at World T20

New Delhi : On the eve of her side’s opening match against Bangladesh, Indian women’s cricket team skipper Mithali Raj believes her side are the strong contenders for this year’s World T20 to be played at the home soil.”With the kind of momentum we have, we should, at least, qualify for the semi-finals. From there, it’s anyone’s game,” Raj said. Raj further said that the other teams had broken Australia and England’s stranglehold on the women’s cricket. “Earlier, it used to feel like those two teams were way ahead of the rest, but now the gap is closing,” she said. “After our last two series wins, we too are strong contenders for the ICC World Twenty20.”she added.India have been drawn alongside Bangladesh, England, Pakistan and West Indies in Group B of the preliminary league in the 10-nation even. The Group A comprises of Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals. Meanwhile, three-time defending champion Australia will look to put aside recent setbacks as they would aim to win their fourth successive World T20 title. Australia women have won the last three tournaments in 2010, 2012 and 2014 after England clinched the inaugural event at home in 2009.