Best playing 11 of 2024 Women's T20 World Cup ft. Amelia Kerr & Harmanpreet Kaur

The 2024 Women's T20 World Cup was arguably the most unpredictable ICC event in recent memory. It was the first Women's T20 World Cup without Australia in the final.

The tournament saw their Trans-Tasmanian rival New Zealand win a white-ball World Cup trophy (Men or Women) for the first time in history. In a fairly one-sided final, the New Zealand women overcame past jitters to win by 32 runs and enter an un-charted yet jubilant territory.

For South Africa, the prosperity of their upset victory over three-time defending T20 World Cup champions Australia was too much to handle and the long wait for a World Cup title continued.

Like any world event, the 2024 T20 World Cup saw stellar performances from several prominent stars and other noteworthy displays from up-and-coming players.

As part of the usual fun exercise after any marquee tournament, here is the best XI of the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup.

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Openers - Laura Wolvaardt & Danielle Wyatt

Australia v South Africa - ICC Women's T20 World Cup Semi-Final 2024 - Source: Getty

South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt was undeniably the best tone-setter at the top of the order for their incredible final run in the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup. The 25-year-old recorded 30+ scores in five of her six innings, including the crucial 59* against the West Indies in the side's opening game that ultimately helped them qualify for the semi-final.

The right-handed batter also stepped up in the big semi-final and final with scores of 42 and 33. The South African opener finished as the tournament's leading scorer with 223 runs at an average of 44.60 and a strike rate of over 113.

Wolvaardt's opening partner will be England Women's ever-reliable Danielle Wyatt, who averaged an outstanding 50.33 at a strike rate of 124.79 in four outings. While the veteran batter scored only 16 in England's heartbreaking final group stage defeat to the West Indies, she produced 40+ scores in their first three matches, helping them win all three.

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Middle-order - Amelia Kerr, Harmanpreet Kaur, Marizanne Kapp, Deandra Dottin

West Indies v New Zealand - ICC Women's T20 World Cup Semi-Final 2024 - Source: Getty

It was a tournament to remember for New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr, finishing as the leading wicket-taker despite batting at No.3. The 24-year-old picked up 15 wickets in six matches at an average of 7.33 and an economy of 4.85.

Yet, Kerr also held New Zealand's batting lineup, scoring 135 runs at an average of 27.50, including a game-changing 43 in the grand finale against South Africa. With multiple wickets in all but one of New Zealand's games, including two three-wicket hauls and a four-wicket haul, Kerr was rightly named the Player of the Tournament.

Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur did all she could to help the side break their World Cup drought. While her efforts eventually fell short with India's surprising group stage exit, the 35-year-old scored back-to-back unbeaten half-centuries to finish the tournament.

With India in a must-win situation, the veteran right-hander scored a valiant 54* to run the formidable Australians close before falling short. Kaur finished with 150 runs at an average of 150 and a strike rate of almost 134 in four games.

South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp did a bit of everything during the T20 World Cup to help the side finish runners-up. The 34-year-old scored quick runs when called upon to finish with 90 runs at an average of 30 and a strike rate of 145.16.

She also bagged five wickets at an outstanding economy of 4.63 in 22 overs of bowling.

West Indian all-rounder Deandra Dottin completes the middle order after her towering batting cameos and crucial bowling spells. The 33-year-old scored 120 runs at an average of 40 and a phenomenal strike rate of 162.16, including a 27 that helped the West Indies stun England and qualify for the semi-final.

Dottin produced arguably the tournament's best all-round performance in the semi-final against New Zealand with figures of 4/22 and a quickfire 33 with the bat. Despite only seven overs of bowling, she finished with five wickets at an average of 7.60 and an economy of 5.42.

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Wicketkeeper - Nigar Sultana

Bangladesh v West Indies - ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 - Source: Getty

Bangladesh Women did not have much to celebrate in the tournament barring their lone win over Scotland. However, that should not undermine skipper Nigar Sultana's excellent glovework behind the stumps and her consistent lower-order batting.

Sultana scored in double figures every match, including 39 and 32* against the West Indies and South Africa to finish with 104 runs at an average of 34.66 and a strike rate of 86.66. Despite playing only four matches, she also finished with the most dismissals among wicketkeepers in the tournament (7).

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Bowlers - Annabel Sutherland, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Eden Carson, Rosemary Mair

India v Australia - ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 - Source: Getty

Australian fast-bowling all-rounder Annabel Sutherland delivered several clutch performances in the closing stages of innings during the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup. After going wicketless in the opening game against Sri Lanka, Sutherland picked up at least two wickets in her four outings, including 2/22 and 2/26 against India and South Africa.

The 23-year-old finished as the fifth-highest wicket-taker with nine scalps at an average of 10.22 and an economy of 5.15.

South Africa's left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba was arguably the biggest reason behind the side's run to the final. The 24-year-old controlled the runs and picked up wickets in equal proportion, finishing as the tournament's second-leading wicket-taker with 12 scalps at an average of 11.33 and an economy of 5.66.

The New Zealand pair of Rosemary Mair and Eden Carson round of the World Cup playing XI. The former bowled a game-changing spell in the final with figures of 3/25 and finished the tournament as the joint-third leading wicket-taker with 10.

Mair's 4/19 in the opener against India ranks as arguably the best spell in the competition that propelled New Zealand on their magical title run.

Meanwhile, Carson adds the off-spin variety to complement Kerr and Mlaba's leg and left-arm spin. The 23-year-old was the star of New Zealand's semi-final win over the West Indies with figures of 3/29.

Carson also picked up two wickets in New Zealand's important opening win over India and finished the World Cup with nine scalps at an average of 16.33 and an economy of 6.39.

Best playing 11 of 2024 Women's T20 World Cup

Laura Wolvaardt (C), Danielle Wyatt, Amelia Kerr, Harmanpreet Kaur, Marizanne Kapp, Deandra Dottin, Nigar Sultana (Wk), Annabel Sutherland, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Eden Carson, and Rosemary Mair.